as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
the new plan raises a number of hot-button issues that are sure to get voters riled up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in third rail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot-button
Chris Lee, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
But aid to Ukraine has become a hot button in Washington, splitting lawmakers, some from the same party.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
Created by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978, the ice cream brand has long been known for speaking out on hot button issues, key among them climate change.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Abortion is less of a hot button issue in Europe than in the United States, and happens with much less controversy.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Noun
But given the enduring complexities of Israeli-Palestinian coexistence and the cultural hot button that campus protests became over the past two years, Hollywood — like much of America — is not in lockstep on how to call for peace in Gaza.
—Chris Lee, Vulture, 28 Feb. 2025
But aid to Ukraine has become a hot button in Washington, splitting lawmakers, some from the same party.
—Savannah Kuchar, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
Created by Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield in 1978, the ice cream brand has long been known for speaking out on hot button issues, key among them climate change.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 14 Feb. 2025
Abortion is less of a hot button issue in Europe than in the United States, and happens with much less controversy.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
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Policies around taxes, the federal budget and migration were widely seen as contentious points among the parties.—
Sophie Kiderlin,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2025
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However, all three of these studies come from a closely affiliated group of researchers, are based on the same dataset tracking maternal health, and use contentious measures of both IQ and fluoride exposure.—
Lauren Leffer,
Popular Science,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Goalie interference is the third rail of the NHL, the most gray area the league has to judge — just look at the end of the second period, when Anders Lee’s goal was upheld on a Columbus challenge after some jostling with Blue Jackets goalie Elvis Merzlikins.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
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There are billions of dollars in potential savings from MA changes, but the program is a political third rail given the influence of insurers and the perils of igniting attacks about cutting Medicare.—
Peter Sullivan,
Axios,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Day, a 13-time PGA Tour winner and the winner of the 2015 PGA Championship, revealed this week that he was asked to remove his controversial sweater vest at last year’s Masters, during a round in which he was partnered with Tiger Woods.—
Paulina Dedaj,
FOXNews.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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But Sound of Freedom, while popular with conservative audiences, was also controversial.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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