hot-button

American  

[hot-buht-n] / ˈhɒtˈbʌt n /

adjective

1. exciting strong feelings; highly charged; emotional.

   hot-button issues.

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hot button British  

noun

1. informal

   1. a controversial subject or issue that is likely to arouse strong emotions

   2. ( as modifier )

      the hot-button issue of abortion

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Etymology

Origin of hot-button

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

A chatbot collected opinions on hot-button political topics from people in the U.K. and aggregated users’ responses into a group statement that emphasized common ground.

From The Wall Street Journal

He said yes to Meathead, assuming that the sitcom’s hot-button bigotry would be so incendiary that it couldn’t possibly last longer than 13 episodes.

From Los Angeles Times

Artificial-intelligence spending remains a hot-button issue on Wall Street.

From Barron's

Naturally, the couple segues into another disagreement, arguing about where to spend their upcoming vacation — a hot-button issue, since Joan’s cancer treatments are no longer working and time is suddenly precious.

From Salon

"They've chosen to boycott, and boycotting never achieves anything of great impact, because decisions will be taken that will move the various issues ahead," Ramaphosa, alluding to a decision on the cost of debt, a hot-button issue for developing nations.

From Barron's