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

This is not at all a political statement, but simply a fact: Elon Musk's new role in government is controversial. —Michael Foster, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Part of it has always been how private Moss has been, and part of it has been her ties to the Church of Scientology, which have always been very controversial. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 8 Apr. 2025

Yoon was removed from office after his controversial decision to impose martial law in the wake of mass protests—a move that was widely condemned at home and abroad. —Gordon G. Chang, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Apr. 2025

The outcome could be a litmus test for Trump's influence and the role of Musk's controversial Department of Government Efficiency. —Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2025