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 Cubs kept his access time brief, knowing he would be asked about the controversial subject. —Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Jan. 2025

Indeed, for all his film’s eccentricities — Blue Velvet’s freaky Frank Booth huffing, well, whatever that stuff is, Lost Highway’s spine-chilling Mystery Man, or Wild at Heart’s Sailor kung fu-kicking in a snakeskin jacket — Lynch wasn’t trying to be controversial. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 17 Jan. 2025

The dye, found in candy and cereals, has been controversial for decades. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 17 Jan. 2025

The program has been controversial among Republicans, who have pushed to end the free filing service. —Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 17 Jan. 2025