1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table
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2
as in aggressive
given to arguing
controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship
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Recent Examples of controversial
The court filing lists a number of Trump administration officials as defendants, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who recently made a controversial visit to the CECOT mega prison for social media content and posed in front of a cell full of prisoners.
—
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The controversial former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) has ruled out a run, and the only others currently running are little known.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025
But that task will be particularly difficult Tuesday as the second murder trial begins in the case against Karen Read, the woman accused of causing the 2022 death of her police officer boyfriend, in a region that has for years been sharply divided over the controversial case.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
And if anything, the absence of the controversial Le Pen family name is a plus for the rest of the French electorate.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Rachel Raposas, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
The controversial former Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) has ruled out a run, and the only others currently running are little known.
—Jared Gans, The Hill, 1 Apr. 2025
But that task will be particularly difficult Tuesday as the second murder trial begins in the case against Karen Read, the woman accused of causing the 2022 death of her police officer boyfriend, in a region that has for years been sharply divided over the controversial case.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2025
And if anything, the absence of the controversial Le Pen family name is a plus for the rest of the French electorate.
—Cole Stangler, Time, 1 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 4 Apr. 2025.
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