Controversial meaning

kŏn'trə-vûr'shəl, -sē-əl
Controversial describes something that is likely to create disagreement.

Politics is an example of a controversial topic.

adjective
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2
Fond of controversy; disputatious.
adjective
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2
Of, subject to, or stirring up controversy; debatable.
adjective
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2
Liking to take part in controversy; disputatious.
adjective
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Arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.
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2
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Of, producing, or marked by controversy.

A controversial movie; a controversial stand on human rights.

adjective
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3

Origin of controversial

From Latin controversia (“controversy”) + -al; see controversy.

Sentence Examples

  • The nasty field that dissolved any type of biological entity was one of the government's latest controversial creations.

  • There grew up a mass of controversial matter which it is amusing to read now.

  • As a religious teacher, literary critic, historian and jurist, Mr Harrison took a prominent part in the life of his time, and his writings, though often violently controversial on political and social subjects, and in their judgment and historical perspective characterized by a modern Radical point of view, are those of an accomplished scholar, and of one whose wide knowledge of literature was combined with independence of thought and admirable vigour of style.

  • In the midst of his scholastic and controversial activities Lanfranc became a political force.

  • (1903) of HauckHerzog's Realencyklopadie where the following classification is adopted: (a) exegetical, (b) scholia on the Fathers, (c) dogmatic and controversial, (d) ethical and ascetic, (e) miscellaneous.

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Words near controversial in the Dictionary