1
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in debate
variance of opinion on a matter
there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversy
Charles Barkley is once again under fire for resurfacing an old controversy — this time reignited during the 2025 Capital One JamFest at the NCAA men’s basketball championship.
—
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
History of drag show controversy Drag shows in Monroe have been a hot-button topic since 2022, when a child was photographed at a drag bingo event at East Frank Superette, WCNC reported.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
When used purposefully, controversy attracts attention to your cause and ignites important conversations.
—Jay Ruderman, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
But even without the political controversy, Tesla is facing headwinds due to growing competition from other automakers, particularly those in China.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 9 Apr. 2025
History of drag show controversy Drag shows in Monroe have been a hot-button topic since 2022, when a child was photographed at a drag bingo event at East Frank Superette, WCNC reported.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2025
When used purposefully, controversy attracts attention to your cause and ignites important conversations.
—Jay Ruderman, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
But even without the political controversy, Tesla is facing headwinds due to growing competition from other automakers, particularly those in China.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 2 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
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No arrests were made, and there was no further investigation into the dispute.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Approach with caution, look at reviews, and maybe don’t use your main credit card (or at least keep your bank’s dispute line handy).—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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King Userkaf’s family relationships are a subject of scholarly debate, but he’s generally believed to have been the father of at least one son, Sahure, who later became pharaoh.—
Aspen Pflughoeft,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2025
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Whether that’s primarily on the players for not handling that like professionals, or on Briere for not recognizing the impact that losing Laughton (and, to a lesser extent, Erik Johnson) would have on the group, is up for debate.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The two then had an altercation, during which one of the children was knocked over and Villalobos fled, according to authorities.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
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Although officially estranged, the couple were still living together with their three sons under the age of 11 at the time of the July 16, 2023, altercation outside their house.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.—
Richard Brody,
The New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2023
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Seven decades later, this culture of disputation emerged as a central theme in Timothy Garton Ash’s The Magic Lantern, his eyewitness report on the Eastern European revolutions of 1989.—
Susie Linfield,
The New York Review of Books,
11 May 2022
Noun
-
This is the classic day for disagreements with anyone in a position of authority.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2025
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Gregg Ward, executive director at The Center for Respectful Leadership, said that while disagreements between neighbors are common, starting a war is never a good idea.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As the Venetians and the Ottoman Turks squabble over Cyprus in the background, the men before us quarrel over everything—a woman, a job, a handkerchief.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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The basketball star has a reputation for being able to silence media noise in the most crucial moments, but the family element of this quarrel seems to have hit a little too close to home this time.—
Christian Orozco,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Gregory, who became known as Gregory the Great, had reasons to advance such an argument.—
Eliza Griswold,
New Yorker,
19 Apr. 2025
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Combs’ defense team made arguments for delaying the trial up to two months, but the judge was not swayed.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The 27-year-old’s striking was on point throughout the fight.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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According to Fox 4 News, Anthony, who is Black, is accused of stabbing 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was white during a fight at Kuykendall Stadium.—
Oumou Fofana,
Essence,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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