controversial

[kon-truh-vur-shuhl]

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.

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of controversial¹

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

Example Sentences

There is nothing especially controversial about what he has said and done so far.

Read more on Salon

While extolled by supporters as Venezuela’s “dama de hierro” — the iron lady, a sobriquet bestowed decades ago on British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher — Machado is a controversial figure, even within the Venezuelan opposition.

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This 1979 Woody Allen film is now one of the director’s most controversial due to its subject matter.

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Though sometimes controversial, the decisions have been justified as a way to break with what went before – both the apartheid and colonial era.

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When news outlets treat trans lives as controversial subject matter rather than communities under attack, they contribute to the very climate that makes violence and discrimination more likely.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• contentious 
• disputed 
• dubious 
• questionable 

When To Use

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.