1
as in dispute
an often noisy or angry expression of differing opinions
the seemingly imperishable controversy over the teaching of evolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in debate
variance of opinion on a matter
there is considerable controversy regarding the assassination of President Kennedy
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversy
By extension, a similar controversy involving Anderson led to Forest’s winning goal.
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Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Most of the team's remaining players have entered the transfer portal in the aftermath of the controversy.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
These various controversies helped establish Boebert as a national figure, and her hard-right image seemed to be effective for fund-raising.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Part of the controversy in 2021 that led to a brief downfall, and then total restructuring of the voting body, was that the often-mysterious group had no Black members.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for controversy 
Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
Most of the team's remaining players have entered the transfer portal in the aftermath of the controversy.
—Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 7 Jan. 2025
These various controversies helped establish Boebert as a national figure, and her hard-right image seemed to be effective for fund-raising.
—Peter Hessler, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025
Part of the controversy in 2021 that led to a brief downfall, and then total restructuring of the voting body, was that the often-mysterious group had no Black members.
—Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 6 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
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City officials did not say what set off the dispute.Deon J. Hampton, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2025
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Campbell, who sat out the previous installment due to a salary dispute, is on board for the new feature to focus on her character, Sidney Prescott, and her daughter.Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But looming over the debate was what could happen after President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20, the day after TikTok must be divested.Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
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Decades before sanctuary cities became a vigorous partisan debate, Sacramento declared itself as one of the first in America.Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Following the altercation, the woman’s mother stormed out of the room, leaving the family divided on who was right in the situation.Ashley Vega, People.com, 9 Jan. 2025
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When an altercation erupted between a rioter and a Capitol Police officer, the document said, Roe — with the pitchfork in his right hand — moved forward and pushed the officer with his left hand.Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Jake is a single father who has brought Kristen up in the severe Calvinist tradition, marked by Bible disputations of Talmudic intricacy and by a radical detachment from secular and popular culture.Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2023
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And yet there is one aspect of the book which was notable: a disputation of the Richard Wrangham's work in Demonic Males.Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 22 Apr. 2013
Noun
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The lawsuit, originally filed by DHL in September, centers around a financial disagreement stemming from MyPillow's use of DHL's delivery services.Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
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But the board quickly devolved into disagreement Tuesday as supervisors nominated themselves for the officer positions.Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The heads of corporate branding cook up a brief, a design firm answers with a litany of slides, and, after iterations, interventions, and internal quarrels, the sign arrives in the physical plane, with glossy acrylic letterforms and antiseptic light.Laura Preston, The New Yorker, 15 July 2024
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The key is to keep communication clear and avoid overreacting to petty quarrels and misunderstandings.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Despite all the good arguments against biogas, for the industry, there’s no limit to its growth potential.Kenny Torrella, Vox, 13 Jan. 2025
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Though Woodall's suit filed Friday contains numerous allegations about the first Moana film, the substance of his argument focuses on the sequel released in November 2024.Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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A number of employees also left Automattic last year after the company offered to buy out staff who didn’t agree with its fight against WP Engine.Emma Roth, The Verge, 10 Jan. 2025
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The Fed dialed back its fight against inflation over the final months of last year, lowering interest rates by a percentage point.Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near controversy
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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