controversial

adjective

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl How to pronounce controversial (audio)
Definition of controversialnext
1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in polemical
given to arguing controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of controversial Maren Morris responded to Shane Gillis‘ controversial Saturday Night Live monologue by giving the comedian the middle finger. — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 13 Oct. 2026 The widening gap in French bond yields over their German equivalents has raised questions over whether the European Central Bank would have to take the expensive and politically controversial step of intervening to stabilize the market. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026 Its newest Ray-Ban glasses don’t have a camera, excluding a controversial feature that raised widespread privacy concerns. — Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 13 Oct. 2026 Musgraves’ response turned the former government official’s criticism into a reference to one of the most controversial stories from Noem’s political career. — Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for controversial
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversial
  1. contentious
  2. polemical
  3. aggressive
Adjective
  • But there are uncertainties ahead, including MLB labor negotiations, which will address the contentious question of a player salary cap and could result in a prolonged work stoppage in 2027.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But the series then gets to know people in depth, allowing for far more nuance than the contentious school board meetings.
    — Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of contentious
Adjective
  • Even so, the film’s gaze is more anthropological than polemical, especially given the faux-doc vibe created by its abundant handheld camerawork, seemingly filmed sometimes by the actors themselves.
    — Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Now, in the 1500s and 1600s, that phrase was often used by Catholics in their polemical war against Protestants.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of polemical
Adjective
  • While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The acquisition comes after the distributor’s founder and then-CEO, Andrew Karpen, died from an aggressive form of brain cancer at the age of 59 in May 2025.
    — Brian Welk, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of aggressive

Browse Nearby Words

controls
controversial
controversies
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All