1
as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table
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2
as in aggressive
given to arguing
controversial by temperament, she's the sort of political attack dog who kills all hope of bipartisanship
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Recent Examples of controversial
In addition, legislators also likely will seek Powell’s views on banking regulation as Vice Chair for Supervision Michael Barr exits his position and as the Fed retools a controversial set of banking regulation proposals.
—
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
In a day one executive order, Trump reinstated a policy that could strip protections from from thousands of civil servants, effectively bringing back his controversial first-term Schedule F employment category.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Any agreement should be open-ended, without the sunset clauses that made the 2015 deal so controversial.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Last year, El Salvador opened a controversial new maximum security prison for alleged gang members, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for controversial 
Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Feb. 2025
In a day one executive order, Trump reinstated a policy that could strip protections from from thousands of civil servants, effectively bringing back his controversial first-term Schedule F employment category.
—Avery Lotz, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Any agreement should be open-ended, without the sunset clauses that made the 2015 deal so controversial.
—Bloomberg Opinion, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025
Last year, El Salvador opened a controversial new maximum security prison for alleged gang members, known as the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.
—Stefano Pozzebon, CNN, 31 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for controversial
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Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversial. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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