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
Relevance
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
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 controversy
By extension, a similar controversy involving Anderson led to Forest’s winning goal.
—
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
-
The dispute originated with a recurring issue in the River Valley when strong odors are emitted from a biowaste storage lagoon in the Arkansas River bottom in Crawford County.Penny Weaver, arkansasonline.com, 2 Jan. 2025
-
The neighbor whose property disputes require legal intervention rather than friendly conversation.Nik Ershov, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The standard debate in Western ethical theory is one that involves three points of view.Dave Anderson, Baltimore Sun, 31 Dec. 2024
-
There was a debate in the dressing room over whether to risk playing the Brazilian regardless of the issue, but it was decided to err on the side of caution.Paul Taylor, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
In 2016, the actress filed for divorce after accusing Pitt of physically abusing her and their children during an altercation on a private jet.Ashley Hume, Fox News, 31 Dec. 2024
-
Two years ago, Jolie filed a countersuit over a dispute about the sale of her half of the pair’s winery that detailed an altercation in 2016 including Pitt being physically aggressive to both Jolie and their children.Max Goldbart, Deadline, 31 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
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
-
The key is to keep communication clear and avoid overreacting to petty quarrels and misunderstandings.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 24 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
The record, of course, would come in a Week 17 game, so arguments can be had about its legitimacy.Ryan Morik, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025
-
There is no good-faith argument that the Broncos didn’t deserve a Playoff spot and a chance to compete for a national title.Justin Williams, The Athletic, 1 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Set in the pre-Independence, the biopic talks about Savarkar and his role in India’s fight against the British rule.Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
-
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 15 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share