controversial

/ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːrʃəl/

Say it: kon-truh-VUR-shuhl

adjective Giving rise or likely to give rise to public disagreement, debate, or argument.
The decision to build the new highway through the park was highly controversial.

📖 Seen in the wild

The new policy proved highly controversial, dividing public opinion sharply.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ controversial in a sentence

The prime minister's controversial new tax plan has sparked protests across the country.
She is a controversial figure in modern art, known for her provocative installations.
I know it's a controversial opinion, but I think movies are better without intermissions.
His book presents a controversial theory about the origins of the universe that challenges mainstream science.
We decided to avoid the more controversial topics, like politics and religion, at the family dinner.
The use of facial recognition technology by law enforcement remains a controversial issue.
Despite its commercial success, the video game was controversial for its violent content.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

debatable contentious disputed polarizing divisive arguable hot-button

debatable · suggests something is open to question, but not necessarily causing a heated public argument.

contentious · emphasizes a tendency to cause arguments and strife, often describing a person or issue that is inherently argumentative.

disputed · implies an active, ongoing disagreement, often over facts, ownership, or territory.

polarizing · highlights that an issue divides people into two sharply opposed groups with no middle ground.

Opposites: uncontroversial, undisputed, agreed-upon, accepted, certain

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'controversial' comes to us from the Latin 'controversia', meaning a dispute or quarrel. This term itself is a combination of 'contra', meaning 'against', and 'vertere', meaning 'to turn'. So, at its root, a controversy is a matter where people are 'turned against' each other in argument.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

controversial issuecontroversial figurehighly controversiala controversial decisionremain controversial

Use 'controversial' for topics that genuinely provoke widespread public debate and strong opposing views. It implies a significant level of disagreement, not just a minor difference of opinion. While the word itself is neutral, the subjects it describes are often emotionally charged. Be careful not to overuse it to describe something that is merely unpopular with a small group, as this can dilute its meaning.

Word family: controversy, controvert, uncontroversial, uncontroversially

💬 Quick answers

What does 'controversial' mean?

It describes something that causes a lot of public argument or disagreement because people have strong, opposing opinions about it.

What is the difference between 'controversial' and 'contentious'?

'Controversial' describes an issue that causes widespread public debate. 'Contentious' can describe a person or topic that is prone to causing arguments, often implying a more quarrelsome or aggressive nature.

Is a controversial topic always a bad thing?

Not necessarily. A controversial topic is simply one that people strongly disagree on. These debates can lead to important discussions, social change, and a better understanding of different viewpoints.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "controversial" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →