controversial
Americanadjective
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of controversy, or prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; polemical.
a controversial book.
-
subject to controversy; debatable.
a controversial decision.
- Synonyms:
- questionable, arguable
-
given to controversy; argumentative; disputatious.
a controversial public figure.
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
- controversially adverb
- noncontroversial adjective
- noncontroversially adverb
- precontroversial adjective
- uncontroversial adjective
- uncontroversially adverb
Etymology
Origin of controversial
First recorded in 1575–85; from Late Latin contrōversiālis; equivalent to controversy + -al 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
After months of protest, the Home Office scrapped the controversial plans in October, saying it was "working hard to reduce the unacceptable use of hotels by moving asylum seekers into alternative, cheaper accommodation".
From BBC
It was a controversial deal inked at the end of a Covid boom in groceries, when people were spending much more time at home and less money eating out.
From BBC
Until now King Misuzulu, on the throne since 2022, has mainly made the headlines with regard to the royal succession battle and his controversial divorce.
From BBC
The Freedom of the Press Foundation called the charges “a warning shot” to reporters who cover controversial events, while the Knight First Amendment Institute said the case could chill future reporting.
From Salon
Pegasus is a powerful and controversial hacking tool made by Israeli company NSO Group.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
