1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aggressive
given to arguing
controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of controversial
By unilaterally starting negotiations with Russia over the heads of Ukraine and Europe, Trump has begun a controversial process of bringing Moscow in from the diplomatic cold, sowing disunity among Washington’s traditional allies.
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Matthew Chance, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
One of the most dramatic and controversial moments in early Survivor history occurred on the second day of season 10, when the players of Survivor: Palau were told to divide themselves into two tribes via a classic schoolyard pick.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2021, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher made headlines for their controversial shower opinions regarding themselves and their kids.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Obviously, major changes were needed to turn a novel series that read like future history books into an ongoing TV show – and of course, those changes have been controversial among hard sci-fi fans.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Matthew Chance, CNN, 6 Mar. 2025
One of the most dramatic and controversial moments in early Survivor history occurred on the second day of season 10, when the players of Survivor: Palau were told to divide themselves into two tribes via a classic schoolyard pick.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 6 Mar. 2025
In 2021, Mila Kunis and Ashton Kutcher made headlines for their controversial shower opinions regarding themselves and their kids.
—Raven Brunner, People.com, 6 Mar. 2025
Obviously, major changes were needed to turn a novel series that read like future history books into an ongoing TV show – and of course, those changes have been controversial among hard sci-fi fans.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
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Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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