Thesaurus
To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Synonyms & Antonyms of controversy
1
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
- the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms for controversy
- altercation,
- argle-bargle
- [chiefly British],
- argument,
- argy-bargy
- [chiefly British],
- battle royal,
- bicker,
- brawl,
- contretemps,
- cross fire,
- disagreement,
- dispute,
- donnybrook,
- falling-out,
- fight,
- hassle,
- imbroglio,
- kickup,
- misunderstanding,
- quarrel,
- rhubarb,
- row,
- scrap,
- set-to,
- spat,
- squabble,
- tiff,
- wrangle
Words Related to controversy
- attack,
- contention,
- dissension
- (also dissention)
- affray
- [chiefly British],
- fisticuffs,
- fracas,
- fray,
- free-for-all,
- melee
- (also mêlée)
2
variance of opinion on a matter
- there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms for controversy
Words Related to controversy
Near Antonyms for controversy
Antonyms for controversy
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about controversy
Thesaurus Entries near controversy
See More Nearby EntriesCite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 23 Sep. 2020.
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on controversy
What made you want to look up controversy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Homophone Quiz
- In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a
______.
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridgedWords at Play
Ask the Editors
Share controversy
Time Traveler for controversy
The first known use of controversy was in the 15th century
See more words from the same century