controversial
adjective
con·tro·ver·sial
ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl 
-ˈvər-sē-əl
1
: of, relating to, or arousing controversy
a controversial policy
a controversial film
2
: given to controversy : disputatious
a controversial temperament
The controversial biologist caused a ferment among his colleagues.
controversially
adverb
Examples of controversial in a Sentence
Abortion is a highly controversial subject.
a decision that remains controversial
He is a controversial author.
Recent Examples on the Web
Paxton, the controversial state attorney general who survived an impeachment trial last year, is running against long-serving Senator John Cornyn.
—
Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Ryan Murphy’s controversial nine-episode series, looking at the wealthy brothers who in 1989 gunned down and killed their parents in their Beverly Hills home and were later imprisoned for life without parole, was nominated for outstanding limited or anthology series.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
Netflix's latest Trainwreck documentary revisits the controversial Balloon Boy saga that captivated the nation.
—EW.com, 15 July 2025
San Diego finalized a controversial plan Monday to replace hundreds of thousands of trash and recycling bins — many of them new or only a few years old — and send the $65 million bill to customers.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
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Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 16 July 2025
Ryan Murphy’s controversial nine-episode series, looking at the wealthy brothers who in 1989 gunned down and killed their parents in their Beverly Hills home and were later imprisoned for life without parole, was nominated for outstanding limited or anthology series.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 15 July 2025
Netflix's latest Trainwreck documentary revisits the controversial Balloon Boy saga that captivated the nation.
—EW.com, 15 July 2025
San Diego finalized a controversial plan Monday to replace hundreds of thousands of trash and recycling bins — many of them new or only a few years old — and send the $65 million bill to customers.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversial
Cite this Entry
“Controversial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/controversial. Accessed 21 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
controversial
adjective
con·tro·ver·sial
ˌkän-trə-ˈvər-shəl
-ˈvər-sē-əl
: relating to or causing controversy
a controversial movie
controversially
adverb
-ē
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