CONTROVERTED Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

controverted

verb

past tense of controvert

as in argued

to express different opinions about something often angrily ever since the poem was first published, critics and scholars have controverted over the meaning of its concluding lines

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for controverted

Verb

Yet, Poindexter also argued the promises have not been lived up to.

— Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 3 Nov. 2026
The veteran luxury executive was discussing the IFM’s 40th anniversary, and argued that its teaching across business, design and artisanal know-how makes the Paris fashion school unique — and uniquely powerful.

— Miles Socha, Footwear News, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of argued

Verb

The two of them together, just 17 months apart, shared playlists, bickered over where to stop during Apple CarPlay calls, pulled up beside me and faded away with silly faces, encapsulating 20 years of my life in my rearview mirror.

— Robert Duffer, AJC.com, 2 Oct. 2026
King bickered with fans on social media.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 11 June 2026

Definition of bickered

Verb

Between these endpoints of hate and love came an hour-long C-SPAN broadcast, on November 30, 1993, in which the men quarrelled, teased, and fielded calls.

— Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
In Krisevich’s case, Konovalova repeatedly quarreled with the artist and his wife until the couple ultimately escaped Russia in December 2025.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of quarreled

Verb

Federal prosecutors also have said voters won't be disenfranchised by delaying the tabulation of their ballots while their citizenship is checked — an assertion disputed by county election officials.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 Oct. 2026
Bacelar disputed the accusations and said the lawsuit is filled with recycled claims that were previously litigated and dismissed.

— Alene Tchekmedyian, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of disputed

Verb

Bass and Raman fought to halt that move, only to be rebuffed by Horvath and the county board.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
At the morning roundtable, Alan tells the players that Marathon, Agincourt, and Waterloo were all decisive battles fought early in the day.

— Alice Burton, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of fought

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

controvert

controverted

controvertible

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Controverted.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controverted. Accessed 3 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of controverted

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

candidate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Old-Timey Vehicles

Ten More Words from Taylor Swift Songs

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes