Controversial — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective /ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl/ con·tro·ver·sial

Meaning & Definition of Controversial

Controversial (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or arousing controversy
  2. given to controversy, disputatious

Controversial (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions

    "tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table"

    similar: argumentative, contentious, disputatious, hot-button, polemical
    related: delicate, difficult, knotty, problematic, spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough
    opposite: noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial
    near: incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable, irrefutable, uncontested, undisputed

  2. given to arguing

    "controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship"

    similar: argumentative, contentious, disputatious, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy
    related: aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike, feisty, fractious, surly, balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward, disobedient, froward, insubordinate, intractable, recalcitrant, refractory, hardheaded, headstrong, mulish, obdurate, obstinate, pigheaded, resistant, self-opinionated, self-willed, stubborn, unbending, uncompromising, uncooperative, unreasonable, unyielding, willful, acidic, bearish, bilious, cantankerous, captious, choleric, crabby, cranky, cross, disagreeable, dyspeptic, fretful, grouchy, grumpy, huffy, ill-humored, ill-natured, ill-tempered, irascible, irritable, peevish, pettish, petulant, querulous, rude, snappish, snappy, splenetic, testy, touchy, waspish, battling, fighting, warring
    near: affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory, cooperative, obliging, docile, obedient, submissive, tractable, pacific, peaceable, peaceful

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Controversial

The most common words with a similar meaning to Controversial:

argumentative, contentious, disputatious, hot-button, polemical, quarrelsome, scrappy

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Controversial

Words with the opposite meaning of Controversial:

noncontroversial, safe, uncontroversial

Related Words for Controversial

delicate, difficult, knotty, problematic, spiny, thorny, ticklish, touchy, tough, aggressive, bellicose, belligerent, combative, gladiatorial, militant, pugnacious, truculent, warlike, feisty, fractious, surly, balky, contrary, ornery, perverse, restive, wayward, disobedient, froward, insubordinate

Near Antonyms of Controversial

incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, undeniable, unquestionable, irrefutable, uncontested, undisputed, affable, amiable, amicable, benevolent, cordial, easygoing, friendly, genial, good-natured, good-tempered, gracious, ingratiating, pleasant, sociable, acquiescent, agreeable, amenable, complaisant, compliant, complying, conciliatory

Word Forms of Controversial

Derived words: controversialism (noun), controversialist (noun), controversially (adverb)

Origin & Etymology of Controversial

First known use: 1583

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Controversial

Frequently Asked Questions about Controversial

What does "Controversial" mean?

"Controversial" means of, relating to, or arousing controversy. As an adjective, it is defined as: of, relating to, or arousing controversy. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Controversial"?

Other words for "Controversial" include argumentative, contentious, disputatious, hot-button, polemical, quarrelsome and scrappy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Controversial" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Controversial"?

There are 89 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Controversial". Common alternatives include argumentative, contentious, disputatious, hot-button, polemical, quarrelsome and scrappy.

What is the opposite of "Controversial"?

Antonyms of "Controversial" include noncontroversial, safe and uncontroversial. Near antonyms include incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable and indubitable.

How do you use "Controversial" in a sentence?

Examples of "Controversial" in a sentence: "tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table"; "controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship".

Is "Controversial" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Controversial" is an adjective.

Is "Controversial" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Controversial" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Controversial"?

"Controversial" is pronounced /ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl/ and divided into syllables as con·tro·ver·sial.