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
Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Broken streetlights emerged as a hot-button issue in this year’s election, with council members scrambling to find ways to restore them.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The use of generative AI has been a hot button issue in art and entertainment, and game development has been no exception.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Adjective
Alien life has been a hot-button topic for years now, fed by American distrust in the federal government.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Feb. 2026
Broken streetlights emerged as a hot-button issue in this year’s election, with council members scrambling to find ways to restore them.
—Melissa Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Noun
Natural gas bans have become a political hot button in California, with cities such as Berkeley moving to phase out the fossil fuel in favor of electrification.
—Los Angeles Times, 14 Jan. 2026
The use of generative AI has been a hot button issue in art and entertainment, and game development has been no exception.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
-
There was nothing contentious about that first booking.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
In her first year at the job, Tuttle was broadly praised for her efforts to foster an open and respectful debate on Gaza and other contentious political issues.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Dog Day Afternoon is the third rail of male love and loneliness—a primal scream from the sweltering streets of a stone broke New York City.—
Jenny Lumet,
Vanity Fair,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The dog was discovered on the tracks next to the third rail and was pronounced dead at the scene, NYPD told the outlets.—
Kimberlee Speakman,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Already the proposal has spurred the district to consider whether to wind down a controversial donation pact with a billionaire resident and neighbor.—
Shun Graves,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Ice dancers Madison Chock and Evan Bates finished behind the French team of Laurence Fournier Beaudry and Guillaume Cizeron after controversial judging despite pretty clear mistakes by the French.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
23 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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