controversial

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

-ˈvər-sē-əl

1

: of, relating to, or arousing controversy

a controversial policy

a controversial film

2

: given to controversy : disputatious

a controversial temperament

The controversial biologist caused a ferment among his colleagues.

controversialism

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-ˌli-zəm 

-sē-ə-ˌli-

noun

controversialist

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shə-list 

-sē-ə-list

noun

controversially adverb

Synonyms

• argumentative
• contentious
• disputatious
• hot-button
• polemical
• polemic

Examples of controversial in a Sentence

Abortion is a highly controversial subject.

a decision that remains controversial

He is a controversial author.

Recent Examples on the Web

The incident happened Wednesday during a vote on a controversial government bill to give Italy’s regions greater autonomy, according to Politico. —Greg Norman, Fox News, 13 June 2024

The $390,000 cat house in Erlanger is one nonprofit’s effort to take on a complex and controversial problem: stray cats. —Jolene Almendarez, The Courier-Journal, 12 June 2024

But that money is contingent on the council eventually approving that controversial project. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2024

Four months after Pakistan’s most controversial election in recent history, the question on everybody’s lips remains the same: How long before former Prime Minister Imran Khan is released from prison? —Hasan Ali, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

see controversy

First Known Use

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

controversial

adjective

con·​tro·​ver·​sial ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

-ˈvər-sē-əl

: relating to or causing controversy

a controversial movie

controversially

-ē

adverb