polemic

[ puh-lem-ik, poh- ]

/ pəˈlɛm ɪk, poʊ- /

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See synonyms for: polemic / polemics on Thesaurus.com

noun

a controversial argument, as one against some opinion, doctrine, etc.

a person who argues in opposition to another; controversialist.

adjective

Also po·lem·i·cal. of or relating to a polemic; controversial.

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Origin of polemic

First recorded in 1610–20; from French polémique “disputatious, argumentative,” from Greek polemikós “of or for war,” equivalent to pólem(os) “war” + -ikos -ic

OTHER WORDS FROM polemic

po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverbnon·po·lem·ic, noun, adjectivenon·po·lem·i·cal, adjectivenon·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb

o·ver·po·lem·i·cal, adjectiveo·ver·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverbun·po·lem·ic, adjectiveun·po·lem·i·cal, adjectiveun·po·lem·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use polemic in a sentence

In the same way, that museum exhibition was a big polemical attack on Pim Fortuyn mislabeled as a study of the fall of Rome.
David's Book Club: Empires and Barbarians|David Frum|January 6, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The more polemical the exchange, the more bluntly this point will be advanced.
The Public Health Case Against Pot|David Frum|December 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
For decades now, the discourse about Israel has been far too hysterical, far too polemical, far too zero-sum.
Neither "Best Friend" Nor "Anti-Israel"|Gil Troy|October 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
I think Philip's words provide an almost laboratory-pure example of just such a polemical tendency.
The Overheated Case Against Romneycare|David Frum|August 4, 2012|DAILY BEAST

This would be the opposite of blind partisanship and polemical vitriol, but would still be a conflict, even a bitter one.
The Illusory Promise of Apolitical Theology|David Sessions|June 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Is there any Church in Christendom with such a polemical history or at the present moment so hopelessly and bitterly schismatic?
British Quarterly Review, American Edition, Volume LIV|Various
He wrote hurriedly, with a polemical object in view, and paid no attention to style.
The Memoirs of Count Carlo Gozzi; Volume the first|Count Carlo Gozzi
His logic was studied with the sole view of learning to use polemical weapons.
Beacon Lights of History, Volume V|John Lord
Saadiah's polemical works have always a positive as well as a negative value.
Chapters on Jewish Literature|Israel Abrahams
He describes this vigorous polemical treatise as "flung like a bombshell among my opponents."
Makers of British Botany; a collection of biographies by living botanists|Various

British Dictionary definitions for polemic

polemic

/ (pəˈlɛmɪk) /

adjective Also: po'lemical

of or involving dispute or controversy

noun

an argument or controversy, esp over a doctrine, belief, etc

a person engaged in such an argument or controversy

Derived forms of polemic

polemically, adverbpolemicist (pəˈlɛmɪsɪst) or polemist (ˈpɒlɪmɪst), noun

Word Origin for polemic

C17: from Medieval Latin polemicus, from Greek polemikos relating to war, from polemos war

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

polemic

Origin of polemic

OTHER WORDS FROM polemic

Words related to polemic

How to use polemic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for polemic

Derived forms of polemic

Word Origin for polemic