as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
the new plan raises a number of hot-button issues that are sure to get voters riled up
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in third rail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot-button
Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Why Disney’s Bob Iger is trying to avoid hot buttons
Walt Disney Co. and Chief Executive Bob Iger have made a sharp pivot since doubling-down on diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis 4½ years ago.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The high court, which tries to dispense of pending cases by the end of June, has an unusually large number of decisions pending, particularly on hot button issues.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Sea level rise — mostly due to glacial melt largely caused by anthropogenic climate change — has been a hot button topic for the past half century.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Noun
With Republicans currently controlling both houses of Congress by thin margins, significant legislative could certainly follow, but could still prove difficult on some hot button issues.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 24 Jan. 2025
Why Disney’s Bob Iger is trying to avoid hot buttons
Walt Disney Co. and Chief Executive Bob Iger have made a sharp pivot since doubling-down on diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis 4½ years ago.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The high court, which tries to dispense of pending cases by the end of June, has an unusually large number of decisions pending, particularly on hot button issues.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Sea level rise — mostly due to glacial melt largely caused by anthropogenic climate change — has been a hot button topic for the past half century.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
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Given the timing, data about Wisconsin’s contentious judicial race is less plentiful than what might be on hand, say, during a presidential or midterm election.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
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The pair, who called it quits for the second time in August 2023, are still in the midst of their contentious divorce.—
Karen Fratti,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Reducing tangible benefits — beyond mere waste and fraud — risks touching a political third rail.—
Richard Menger MD MPA,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
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The threat of severe cutbacks amid those entitlements, long considered a third rail in U.S. politics, has angered some Trump allies.—
Joe Battenfeld,
Boston Herald,
13 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Trump administration cuts public health jobs, funding HHS, led by controversial Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., plans to go from about 82,000 to 62,000 full-time employees, the department said in a statement last week.—
Mary Ramsey,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2025
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Several of the cases were brought by Buzbee, a controversial lawyer from Houston.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 6 Apr. 2025.
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