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
Harman posted an identical second round en route to a commanding six shot victory at Royal Liverpool two years ago, when his love of hunting became a staple topic of press conferences and a source of controversy for some British tabloids.
—
Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
However, the party also managed to secure some changes during consideration in the House Appropriations Committee dealing with recent controversies at the Defense Department under the Trump administration.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 18 July 2025
President Donald Trump will not push for Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate his administration’s management of the Jeffrey Epstein files, as the controversy consumes Congress and his MAGA base.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2025
But for all the noise (including some controversy) many organizations still misunderstand what a true growth mindset looks like, especially in an era defined by Artificial Intelligence.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 18 July 2025
However, the party also managed to secure some changes during consideration in the House Appropriations Committee dealing with recent controversies at the Defense Department under the Trump administration.
—Aris Folley, The Hill, 18 July 2025
President Donald Trump will not push for Attorney General Pam Bondi to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate his administration’s management of the Jeffrey Epstein files, as the controversy consumes Congress and his MAGA base.
—Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 17 July 2025
But for all the noise (including some controversy) many organizations still misunderstand what a true growth mindset looks like, especially in an era defined by Artificial Intelligence.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 17 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
-
Threads on the South Park subreddit and social media have lit up with foul-mouthed complaints from international fans, most of them directed at Paramount and David Ellison’s Skydance Media, whose $8 billion buyout of Paramount is at the heart of the South Park dispute.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
-
But there are still some sour grapes about the big tactical dispute in February.—
Burgess Everett,
semafor.com,
14 July 2025
Noun
-
Keegan Bradley: This is not the big captaincy debate.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 July 2025
-
The European Commission’s proposed flat tax on parcels under 150 euros, along with ongoing debates about advertising restrictions, underscored the regulatory tightening.—
Drew Bernstein,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
During the altercation, a man pulled a gun and shot Ramirez.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
23 July 2025
-
See Jackie Christie and Chantel’s unfortunate altercation above.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Internal disagreements among board members further complicate SDC's situation.—
Gina Lee Castro,
jsonline.com,
18 July 2025
-
Because of this, students should note that the topic of the disagreement matters far less than how the disagreement illuminates the student’s capacity for reflection, listening, and growth.—
Christopher Rim,
Forbes.com,
17 July 2025
Noun
-
Your celestial ruler, Mercury, will also station retrograde in your communication sector (for the win), triggering misunderstandings and unnecessary quarrels with siblings or neighbors.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 July 2025
-
According to writer and historian Geoffrey C. Ward, Johnson had his quarrels inside and outside the ring.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
-
In his ruling Thursday, Sabraw said the government did not prevail on any of those arguments.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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But courts across the country have rejected these arguments as overreaches, rooted more in political symbolism than legal standing.—
Albert R. Wynn,
Baltimore Sun,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Ali has not yet responded to Shields’ fight request now that money has been offered.—
Mya Abraham,
VIBE.com,
21 July 2025
-
Anyone who witnessed the fight is asked to contact Oak Creek Officer Andrew Glaz at 414-762-8200.—
Jack Albright,
jsonline.com,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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