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
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
Known for biting jokes that dance around hot button topics including sexism and feminism — but also weed, animals, and The Real Housewives — Treyger recently wrapped filming on Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest, Netflix’s comedy series based on Michelle Buteau’s bestseller of the same name.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Noun
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
Known for biting jokes that dance around hot button topics including sexism and feminism — but also weed, animals, and The Real Housewives — Treyger recently wrapped filming on Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest, Netflix’s comedy series based on Michelle Buteau’s bestseller of the same name.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
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There were several contentious incidents in this rather odd and chaotic match that had appeared as good as over with around 20 minutes left, before several late twists.—
Patrick Boyland,
The Athletic,
23 Feb. 2025
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Maybe the most contentious issue ever to divide these two camps is whether or not to replace notoriously inaccurate human home plate umpires with less fallible machines.—
Mack DeGeurin,
Popular Science,
21 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In political discourse, DEI became the ultimate third rail.—
Sheilla Mamona,
refinery29.com,
18 Feb. 2025
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For decades, transfer remained the third rail of Israeli politics - so extreme, so indefensible, that it could not be spoken of in polite company.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Offensive posts by Gascón from 2020 and 2021 surfaced online last month, many of which included controversial comments about the killing of George Floyd and diversity at the Oscars.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
24 Feb. 2025
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Germany's conservatives are projected to win the national election on Sunday while the controversial far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party records its best-ever results in an election, exit polls showed.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
24 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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