as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
the new plan raises a number of hot-button issues that are sure to get voters riled up
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in third rail
Related Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot-button
U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
This became a hot-button topic this year when Miami (Ohio), which went undefeated in the regular season and lost in its conference tourney, was considered a bubble team and ended up the last team in the field.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Missing from the speech were several hot button issues that have consumed his administration’s HHS over the last few months, including shifting vaccine mandates and major cuts to health and science funding.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Adjective
Their decades-long obsession with immigration and hot-button social issues comes off as — and sometimes is — ugly nativism.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
This became a hot-button topic this year when Miami (Ohio), which went undefeated in the regular season and lost in its conference tourney, was considered a bubble team and ended up the last team in the field.
—Cj Moore, New York Times, 1 May 2026
Noun
The issue of private equity investment in health care facilities has been a hot button topic in Connecticut recently.
—Jenna Carlesso, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 2026
Missing from the speech were several hot button issues that have consumed his administration’s HHS over the last few months, including shifting vaccine mandates and major cuts to health and science funding.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 25 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
-
James Ward Thursday night’s California governor debate underscored just how unsettled — and contentious — the race has become, with candidates repeatedly clashing over crime, election integrity, reproductive rights, and the balance of power between state and local government.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
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The most contentious and controversial being some very pointed criticisms of Ole Miss, his former school.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Noun
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EMUs are faster and can often carry more people, but require overhead catenary lines or a third rail, while the battery electric locomotives can be used on non-electrified track by charging their batteries, reducing the infrastructure investment.—
State House News Service,
Boston Herald,
1 May 2026
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That train also hit debris — potentially a loose section of the third rail, sources told The News.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The pitch is for the old Applied Composites site, on which a controversial development project called the Lexington Club received city approval more than a decade ago, but didn’t ultimately come about, according to the city.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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Other roasters had also poked fun at Hart for taking part in the controversial fest.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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