1
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in debate
variance of opinion on a matter
there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversy
Beck said the session started slowly in light of last year’s controversy, but the Senate was able to implement rule changes that got it back to work.
—
Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
Eric Hall, who was selected as Pasco-Hernando State College’s president last year amid controversy surrounding a DOGE report, was first a secretary at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
—Lucy Marques, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
The company has faced a wave of controversy in recent days from people who preordered the device.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 May 2026
More than three out of four civics teachers surveyed reported having censored themselves out of fear of pushback or controversy.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026
Eric Hall, who was selected as Pasco-Hernando State College’s president last year amid controversy surrounding a DOGE report, was first a secretary at the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.
—Lucy Marques, Miami Herald, 13 May 2026
The company has faced a wave of controversy in recent days from people who preordered the device.
—Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 13 May 2026
More than three out of four civics teachers surveyed reported having censored themselves out of fear of pushback or controversy.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
-
When Magyar emerged as an opposition figure, their disputes became a recurring story in the tabloids.—
Andrew Marantz,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
The dispute, which has spanned three mayoral administrations going back to at least 2021, has now hit a breaking point.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The debate was sponsored by The Denver Post, Denver7 and Colorado Public Radio, and the first question asked Bennet and Weiser to identify a policy position that separated them.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
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The incorporation of UAVs into regular military operations marked a paradigm shift in the conduct of warfare, introducing new tactical possibilities, strategic dilemmas, and ethical debates that continue to evolve.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
8 May 2026
Noun
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Video footage appeared to show Pretti recording the agents on his phone before a physical altercation began.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2026
-
During the altercation, police said the male victim produced a firearm and fired a single round.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
This did not, however, mark the end of disputation concerning the Northwest Angle.—
Scott Spires,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
New reports don’t end disagreements The latest raft of reporting, with mysterious figures and unexplained sounds, has not yet made a believer out of skeptic Benjamin Radford.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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The new restaurant takes over the former Biscuit & Hogs space, which closed amid legal disagreements.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
8 May 2026
Noun
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In a 2024 study, researchers found that chimpanzee mothers tended to step in to defend their children in quarrels—say, over food or space in a tree—in about half of cases the researchers observed in the wild.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
10 May 2026
-
As the trio quarrels, bonds and ventures through the wild unknown, Felix discovers that true bravery may change not only his own destiny, but also the future of his home.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Unsigned editorials reflect the consensus of our editorial board, with the aim of offering arguments that are empirically sound and intellectually consistent.—
Teagan Davidge,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
Swann, in other words, takes Washburn’s side of the animal-mind argument.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
But with a lot of hydration, proper nutrition, and Parks and Recreation rewatches in her down time, it’s made for an easy recovery routine for Rooney as the Frost fight to stay alive in the playoffs.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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The drive to pass a post-production tax credit bill in the California legislature received a boost Friday night when the California Post Alliance announced that the Television Academy has joined the fight.—
Jon Burlingame,
Variety,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
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