Synonyms of polemical

polemical

adjective

pə-ˈle-mi-kəl 

variants also polemic

1

as in controversial

given to arguing

during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings

Synonyms & Similar Words

• controversial
• contentious
• aggressive
• militant
• argumentative
• stubborn
• irritable
• disputatious
• quarrelsome
• unreasonable
• scrappy
• combative
• pugnacious
• belligerent
• bellicose
• warlike
• willful
• contrary
• rude
• resistant
• acidic
• truculent
• gladiatorial
• fighting
• feisty
• disagreeable
• splenetic
• fractious
• captious
• ornery
• uncompromising
• perverse
• obstinate
• surly
• bilious
• wayward
• cross
• peevish
• intractable
• waspish
• petulant
• querulous
• irascible
• disobedient
• insubordinate
• refractory
• restive
• dyspeptic
• cantankerous
• fretful
• obdurate
• snappish
• recalcitrant
• mulish
• uncooperative
• pettish
• testy
• warring
• unbending
• choleric
• balky
• touchy
• huffy
• battling
• unyielding
• headstrong
• grouchy
• grumpy
• hardheaded
• froward
• bearish
• crabby
• ill-natured
• cranky
• pigheaded
• ill-humored
• ill-tempered
• self-willed
• self-opinionated
• snappy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• amiable
• friendly
• benevolent
• cordial
• gracious
• cooperative
• conciliatory
• good-natured
• genial
• easygoing
• amicable
• ingratiating
• affable
• sociable
• agreeable
• amenable
• compliant
• complaisant
• complying
• acquiescent
• good-tempered
• docile
• obedient
• submissive
• tractable
• peaceful
• peaceable
• obliging
• pacific

2

as in contentious

relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions

an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contentious
• controversial
• argumentative
• difficult
• disputatious
• tough
• problematic
• hot-button
• touchy
• thorny
• knotty
• ticklish
• spiny
• delicate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safe
• indisputable
• undeniable
• incontrovertible
• incontestable
• unquestionable
• uncontroversial
• indubitable
• noncontroversial
• irrefutable
• undisputed
• uncontested

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of polemical

The Wall Street Journal editorial board has recommended Congress review funding for materials that appear polemical, given that both FJC and NAS receive taxpayer support. — Dan Eberhart, Forbes.com, 3 Mar. 2026

Yet as Fennell has proved in a slew of interviews about the already polemical film, released Friday, the relationship between Brontë’s Gothic epic and its latest adaptation is more complicated than that. — Malia Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 13 Feb. 2026

This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year in our great nation and especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026

This kind of depravity, licentiousness and polemical theatrics has no place on such a traditional and once-wholesome presentation of the coming of a new year, especially on the eve of the 250th anniversary of the greatest experiment in democracy and freedom in history. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026