variants
also polemic
1
as in controversial
given to arguing
during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in difficult
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of polemical
When pluralism implies of ideas, of ideologies, of parties, sometimes inimical to each other, sometimes polemical, sometimes in the attempt to make compromises in order to rule a country.
—
Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2016
The motion picture industry first moved aggressively into polemical territory during the prewar interregnum from 1939 to 1941, when Europe was at war but America wasn’t.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
After all, novels that exaggerate our social and political ills in some horrific future are the most polemical works of fiction.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Blowups at literary journals are not the most pressing news of the day, but the incident at Guernica reveals the extent to which elite American literary outlets may now be beholden to the narrowest polemical and moralistic approaches to literature.
—Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for polemical
Foreign Affairs, 2 Nov. 2016
The motion picture industry first moved aggressively into polemical territory during the prewar interregnum from 1939 to 1941, when Europe was at war but America wasn’t.
—Thomas Doherty, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Aug. 2024
After all, novels that exaggerate our social and political ills in some horrific future are the most polemical works of fiction.
—Ron Charles, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
Blowups at literary journals are not the most pressing news of the day, but the incident at Guernica reveals the extent to which elite American literary outlets may now be beholden to the narrowest polemical and moralistic approaches to literature.
—Phil Klay, The Atlantic, 12 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for polemical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for polemical
Adjective
-
And if anything, the absence of the controversial Le Pen family name is a plus for the rest of the French electorate.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
1 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
Adjective
-
There are very big match-ups being played week in and week out in what is one of the most difficult leagues to play in on the planet, this means the big contenders will drop points more often than in some other leagues.—
Joseph O'Sullivan,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Generations of design successors have insisted that pie charts are difficult to read and even amount to optical informatic illusions, but we are still stuck with them.—
Mara Mills,
Artforum,
1 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The pair, who called it quits for the second time in August 2023, are still in the midst of their contentious divorce.—
Karen Fratti,
People.com,
31 Mar. 2025
-
Given the timing, data about Wisconsin’s contentious judicial race is less plentiful than what might be on hand, say, during a presidential or midterm election.—
Savannah Kuchar,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Totting up working hours places us on Musk’s argumentative terrain.—
Charlie Tyson,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
-
While the folksy, friendly Readers’ Digest-style publications have faded, some thoughtful if politically argumentative ones still thrive – The Atlantic and The Economist, for example.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
There are also more aggressive interventions for people with severe allergies who don’t respond to other medicines like desensitization therapy, also known as allergy shots.—
Umair Irfan,
Wired News,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The two were very aggressive from the start of the fight, with a lot of output.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
From Myanmar comes the story of a student turned insurgent who joined a militant guerilla group set on overthrowing the country’s military junta.—
The Dial,
The Dial,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Israel ended its ceasefire with the Hamas militant group and renewed its air and ground war last month.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Polemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/polemical. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share