uncontroversial

/ˌʌn.kɑːn.trəˈvɝː.ʃəl/

Say it: un-kon-truh-VUR-shul

adjective Not likely to cause disagreement, argument, or public debate.
The proposal to add more benches to the park was entirely uncontroversial.

📖 Seen in the wild

The decision to provide clean water to all citizens was an uncontroversial policy.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ uncontroversial in a sentence

Let's start the meeting with the most uncontroversial items on the agenda.
The journalist tried to stick to uncontroversial facts in her report.
His choice for the new director was surprisingly uncontroversial, earning praise from all sides.
Compared to the other topics, the budget for office supplies was relatively uncontroversial.
She has built a career on making pleasant, uncontroversial films that appeal to a wide audience.
The historical data itself is uncontroversial, but its interpretation has sparked fierce debate.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

undisputed unchallenged accepted non-contentious agreed-upon unquestionable indisputable safe

undisputed · implies something is accepted as fact and is not being challenged

unchallenged · suggests a lack of opposition, whether due to agreement or apathy

accepted · indicates general agreement or approval, often by a specific group

non-contentious · a more formal synonym that also means not causing disagreement

Opposites: controversial, contentious, debatable, disputed, polemical

🌱 Where it comes from

The word is a straightforward combination of the prefix 'un-', meaning 'not', and the adjective 'controversial'. 'Controversial' itself comes from the Latin 'controversia', meaning 'a turning against', which perfectly captures the idea of a debate or dispute that an uncontroversial topic avoids.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

uncontroversial statementuncontroversial decisionuncontroversial topiclargely uncontroversialrelatively uncontroversialuncontroversial fact

Uncontroversial is a standard, slightly formal word most at home in professional, political, or academic contexts. It's excellent for describing decisions, statements, or topics that are designed to avoid conflict. In casual speech, it can sound a bit stiff; you're more likely to hear someone say 'that's a safe bet' or 'nobody's going to argue with that'.

Word family: uncontroversially, controversial, controversy

💬 Quick answers

What does uncontroversial mean?

It describes something that is not likely to cause disagreement or argument. It's used for ideas, topics, or decisions that most people can agree on without any fuss.

What's the difference between 'uncontroversial' and 'undisputed'?

'Uncontroversial' means something doesn't provoke debate, often referring to opinions or proposals. 'Undisputed' means something is accepted as fact without any challenge. A scientific fact might be undisputed, while a political plan could be uncontroversial.

Is 'uncontroversial' a formal word?

It is generally used in neutral to formal contexts, like news, business, and academic writing. In casual conversation, you might hear simpler phrases like 'everyone agrees' or 'it's a safe topic'.

Can a person be described as uncontroversial?

Yes, a person can be called uncontroversial, meaning they are agreeable and avoid expressing opinions that cause conflict. However, the word is more frequently applied to statements, decisions, or subjects.

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