Synonyms of controversial

controversial

adjective

ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 

1

as in contentious

relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions

tried to avoid controversial topics over the holiday dinner table

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contentious
• polemic
• polemical
• difficult
• tough
• problematic
• argumentative
• problematical
• hot-button
• disputatious
• thorny
• touchy
• knotty
• ticklish
• spiny
• delicate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• safe
• indisputable
• undeniable
• unquestionable
• noncontroversial
• uncontroversial
• incontestable
• incontrovertible
• indubitable
• irrefutable
• undisputed
• uncontested

2

as in aggressive

given to arguing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• contentious
• aggressive
• polemic
• polemical
• militant
• stubborn
• irritable
• argumentative
• unreasonable
• disputatious
• scrappy
• quarrelsome
• willful
• combative
• pugnacious
• resistant
• fighting
• belligerent
• rude
• warlike
• feisty
• contrary
• bellicose
• gladiatorial
• cross
• fractious
• disagreeable
• wayward
• truculent
• acidic
• surly
• intractable
• uncompromising
• ornery
• uncooperative
• balky
• perverse
• wilful
• recalcitrant
• obstinate
• disobedient
• battling
• restive
• cantankerous
• irascible
• refractory
• touchy
• splenetic
• insubordinate
• peevish
• testy
• captious
• petulant
• headstrong
• obdurate
• warring
• fretful
• bilious
• unbending
• mulish
• waspish
• grumpy
• querulous
• dyspeptic
• unyielding
• snappish
• grouchy
• hardheaded
• huffy
• pettish
• froward
• choleric
• bearish
• ill-tempered
• crabby
• pigheaded
• ill-humored
• cranky
• ill-natured
• self-willed
• snappy
• self-opinionated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pleasant
• friendly
• benevolent
• amiable
• cooperative
• gracious
• amicable
• good-natured
• affable
• easygoing
• cordial
• agreeable
• amenable
• genial
• conciliatory
• sociable
• compliant
• ingratiating
• complying
• acquiescent
• complaisant
• docile
• tractable
• peaceful
• good-tempered
• obedient
• submissive
• peaceable
• obliging
• pacific

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of controversial

The company behind the controversial Dakota Access Pipeline, Energy Transfer, first sued Greenpeace and other activists in federal court back in 2017. —Jeff Brady, NPR, 24 Feb. 2025

Other Reddit users joined in on the conversation, sharing thoughts on the controversial seat hopping. —Sydney Borchers, Fox News, 23 Feb. 2025

The police chief The game’s other controversial moment came in the opening minutes. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025

Neither, for that matter, are some of Spotify’s more controversial programming decisions that go beyond music—such as its nine-figure deal with the wildly popular podcaster Joe Rogan. —Brad Shoup, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2025