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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of controversy
The recent controversy has significantly impacted his career with many brands distancing themselves from the actor, including Prada and Dinto Cosmetics.
—
Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Last year's Mother's Day family portrait was one of Kate Middleton's biggest (of very few) controversies.
—Vanity Fair, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2025
At the heart of the USIP controversy is the question of whether the think tank falls under the purview of the executive branch.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 30 Mar. 2025
The movie, which premieres March 21, has had its fair share of controversies throughout the production process — from Disney's choice to cast Zegler as Snow White to the studio being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about dwarfs to rumors that Zegler and Gal Gadot don't get along.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Last year's Mother's Day family portrait was one of Kate Middleton's biggest (of very few) controversies.
—Vanity Fair, Glamour, 30 Mar. 2025
At the heart of the USIP controversy is the question of whether the think tank falls under the purview of the executive branch.
—Emily Feng, NPR, 30 Mar. 2025
The movie, which premieres March 21, has had its fair share of controversies throughout the production process — from Disney's choice to cast Zegler as Snow White to the studio being criticized for perpetuating stereotypes about dwarfs to rumors that Zegler and Gal Gadot don't get along.
—Stephanie Sengwe, People.com, 21 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
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No arrests were made, and there was no further investigation into the dispute.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
10 Apr. 2025
-
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment on the cancellations, but the company has noted in its annual report that international trade disputes, including tariffs, pose a risk to its business.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The debate over phones and cameras in nightlife spaces is ongoing.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
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The social media post fueled global debate over whether Trump's tariffs were part of a permanent new tariff regime or simply a negotiating tactic that could lead to the tariffs being eased through concessions by other countries.—
Douglas Gillison, Ted Hesson,
USA Today,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The two then had an altercation, during which one of the children was knocked over and Villalobos fled, according to authorities.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
-
Although officially estranged, the couple were still living together with their three sons under the age of 11 at the time of the July 16, 2023, altercation outside their house.—
Liam Quinn,
People.com,
26 Mar. 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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Netanyahu fired Ronen Bar, the previous holder of the post, last month after disagreements over who should be held responsible for failing to prevent the October 2023 attack by Hamas that triggered the war in Gaza.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
1 Apr. 2025
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An Israeli official denied that there was any disagreement between the two leaders.—
Mick Krever,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
As the Venetians and the Ottoman Turks squabble over Cyprus in the background, the men before us quarrel over everything—a woman, a job, a handkerchief.—
Helen Shaw,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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The basketball star has a reputation for being able to silence media noise in the most crucial moments, but the family element of this quarrel seems to have hit a little too close to home this time.—
Christian Orozco,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2025
Noun
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No argument, but the Toronto Bridesmaids — er, Blue Jays — didn’t have much of a choice with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. The loss of Guerrero — a native Canadian, homegrown talent and franchise pillar — would have devastated the Jays.—
Ken Rosenthal,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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The argument challenges a precedent set in the 1930s in a case called Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, which stopped President Franklin D. Roosevelt from firing someone on the Federal Trade Commission who had similar job protections to Wilcox and Harris.—
Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY and Jonathan Stempel and Daniel Wiessner, Reuters,
USA Today,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In the co-main event of the fight card, Brandon Grach and Liam Talivaa face off in a heavyweight rematch.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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Johnson blamed these Republicans for bringing the chamber to a standstill, and leadership canceled votes for the rest of the week to regroup over how to approach round two of the proxy voting fight.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
4 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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