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Which novel was once considered so controversial that it was censored?

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controversial

American  

[kon-truh-vur-shuhl] / ˌkɒn trəˈvɜr ʃəl /

adjective

1. 

   of, relating to, or characteristic of controversy, or prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; polemical.

   a controversial book.

2. subject to controversy; debatable.

   a controversial decision.

   Synonyms:

   questionable, arguable

3. given to controversy; argumentative; disputatious.

   a controversial public figure.

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Usage

What does controversial mean? Controversial is used to describe someone or something that causes people to get upset and argue. Controversial is the adjective form of the noun controversy, which is a prolonged dispute, debate, or state of contention, especially one that unfolds in public and involves a stark difference of opinion. Things commonly called controversial include topics, actions, and people (particularly for what they say and do). Example: Questions about the candidate’s controversial remarks from the past prevented him from talking about his campaign.

Other Word Forms

• controversialism
  noun
• controversialist
  noun
• noncontroversial
  adjective
• precontroversial
  adjective
• uncontroversial
  adjective
• controversially
  adverb
• noncontroversially
  adverb
• uncontroversially
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of controversial

First recorded in 1575–85; from Late Latin contrōversiālis; equivalent to controversy + -al ¹

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Explanation

If a politician ran for office on the platform that children should be put to work from age six, his platform is likely to be controversial, meaning it will cause controversy, or a long discussion among people with opposing opinions. Controversies are usually public disagreements about important matters. The adjective controversial is from the Latin from controversus "disputed," formed from the prefix contra- "against" plus versus, from vertere "to turn." The Latin suffix –ialis, corresponding to the English suffixes –ial and –al, means "relating to or characterized by."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

controversial

The sketch also mocked a controversial Department of War logo, with a sailor asking whether it featured a Nazi eagle.

From Salon ● Oct. 11, 2026

Elsewhere, the transition to a less open, more dangerous world has been costly and controversial.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

Jack Hamilton explores how this controversial story connects to King’s better-known works.

From Slate ● Oct. 8, 2026

“Fjord” is based on a controversial real-life 2015 case in which Norway’s child protective services sought to separate a couple from their five children on charges that the parents hit them.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

A controversial minority view is that of the linguist Joseph Greenberg, who groups all Native American languages other than Eskimo-Aleut and Na-Dene languages into a single large family, termed Amerind, with about a dozen subfamilies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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Related Words

• contentious
• disputed
• dubious
• questionable

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