controversial Hear it!

controversial Definition

con·tro·ver·sial (kän′trə vʉr′s̸həl, -sē əl)

adjective

  1. of, subject to, or stirring up controversy; debatable
  2. Rare liking to take part in controversy; disputatious

Etymology: LL controversialis

controversial Related Forms

con′·tro·ver′·sially adverb

controversial Synonyms

controversial

modif.

debatable, contestable, arguable, polemic, polemical, controvertible, open to question, open to discussion, open to doubt, open to debate, dubious, doubtful, dubitable, questionable, moot, subject to controversy, in question, suspect, in dispute, at issue, provocative, disputable, contentious, argumentative; see also questionable 1, uncertain 2.

controversial Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

  • hugely: In a hugely controversial move, an influential group of frontline officers is demanding a radical change in the law.
  • highly: Cars were a highly controversial issue, he said.
  • politically: Although Law Commission Bills do not tend to be politically controversial, that can operate against them at this stage.
  • somewhat: This movie features a somewhat controversial scene in which Dunst, then aged eleven, had to kiss Brad Pitt, who was 29.
  • potentially: I don't think there were any complaints about my potentially controversial room assignments.
  • sometimes: We have been concerned about this as very large and sometimes controversial buildings slip through without committee approval.

Adjective complement with noun phrase

  • say: Them being so very devout I always take care not to swear or say anything controversial when I visit.
  • make: But paying extra makes such plans even more controversial.

Modifies a noun

  • cleric: Controversial cleric vows to defy mosque ban 18 January 2003 Charity bosses remove Abu Hamza.
  • topic: Valuable Lessons Research report exploring how teachers approach controversial topics raised by science in their lessons.
  • issue: Cars were a highly controversial issue, he said.
  • proposal: The World Health Assembly is to consider these controversial proposals in May 2005.
  • figure: He is the single most controversial figure to have emerged in Ireland in the past 40 years.
  • decision: Red flight scored first over a very controversial decision by the referee.

Used with adjective complement

  • prove: However, their ownership proved controversial to some, which is why they want to find an exit.
  • remain: The optimal number of sets of an exercise to develop muscle strength remains controversial.
  • become: Swimming Optimum body fat for swimmers has become controversial of late.
  • sound: At the risk of sounding controversial it should not be forgotten that much of the damage is caused by ever larger agricultural machinery.
  • get: In 1969, I wrote, concerning MUFORG and MUFORG Bulletin: Toward the end of 1966 we got even more controversial.

Preposition: in

way: I think it's more the corporate mentality of why mess with anything that could potentially be controversial in a messy way.