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

Examples of controversial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The character became quite controversial when first introduced in 2020's The Last of Us Part II due to the intense reactions from players. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 26 Sep. 2024

Some fans at the Raiders’ final Coliseum game in 2019 — doubly incensed by some controversial officiating calls in that game — threw trash and bottles onto the field after the final whistle. —Justice Delos Santos, The Mercury News, 25 Sep. 2024

Popular on Variety The entertainment bills have been less controversial. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 17 Sep. 2024

Every controversial executive decision and every backfired attempt to improve a product would be visible and available to you. —Dmitry Mishunin, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024