controversial

[ kon-truh-vur-shuhl ]

/ ˌkɒn trəˈvɜr ʃəl /

adjective

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.

given to controversy; argumentative; disputatious: a controversial public figure.

Nearby words

controlled ventilation, controlled-release, controller, controlling image, controlling interest, controversial, controversy, controvert, contucci, andrea, contumacious, contumacy

Origin of controversial

1575–85; < Late Latin contrōversiālis, equivalent to Latin contrōversi(a) controversy + -ālis -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR controversial

2 arguable, questionable.

Related forms

con·tro·ver·sial·ism, nouncon·tro·ver·sial·ist, nouncon·tro·ver·sial·ly, adverbnon·con·tro·ver·sial, adjective

non·con·tro·ver·sial·ly, adverbpre·con·tro·ver·sial, adjectiveun·con·tro·ver·sial, adjectiveun·con·tro·ver·sial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for noncontroversial

By that classic, and noncontroversial, definition, what the Obama administration is contemplating in Syria is absolutely war.
This Is War and Why John Kerry’s Rhetoric Isn’t Convincing|Peter Beinart|September 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Move on noncontroversial nominations to courts and executive agencies.
How Congress Can Redeem Itself|Jill Lawrence|August 3, 2011|DAILY BEAST
There's no such thing as an effective and a noncontroversial reorganization and reform.
Complete State of the Union Addresses from 1790 to 2006|Various

British Dictionary definitions for noncontroversial

noncontroversial

/ (ˌnɒnkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl) /

adjective

not causing dispute, argument, debate, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012