What does controversial mean?

Definitions for controversial
ˌkɒn trəˈvɜr ʃəl, -si əlcon·tro·ver·sial

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word controversial.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. controversialadjective

    marked by or capable of arousing controversy

    "the issue of the death penalty is highly controversial"; "Rushdie's controversial book"; "a controversial decision on affirmative action"

Wiktionary

  1. controversialadjective

    Arousing controversya debate or discussion of opposing opinions.

  2. Etymology: From controversia + -al; see controversy.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Controversialadjective

    Relating to disputes; disputatious.

    Etymology: from controversy.

    It happens in controversial discourses as it does in the assaulting of towns, where, if the ground be but firm whereon the batteries are erected, there is no farther enquiry of whom it is borrowed, nor whom it belongs to, so it affords but a fit rise for the present purpose. John Locke.

Wikipedia

  1. controversial

    Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction".

ChatGPT

  1. CONTROVERSIAL

    Controversial refers to something that elicits intense disagreement, debate, or differing opinions among individuals or groups. It often involves controversial topics or issues that provoke strong emotions, conflicting perspectives, or arguments due to the varying viewpoints and beliefs held by different people. Such matters can be subject to controversy due to their sensitive nature, potential impact, or conflicting values and principles.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Controversialadjective

    relating to, or consisting of, controversy; disputatious; polemical; as, controversial divinity

  2. Etymology: [Cf. LL. controversialis.]

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'controversial' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4266

  2. Adjectives Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'controversial' in Adjectives Frequency: #571

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of controversial in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of controversial in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9

Examples of controversial in a Sentence

  1. Christine Brennan:

    In the Michael Jordan-Tiger Woods era, we got used to athletes and coaches toeing the company line, playing it safe at every turn, but the election of Donald Trump has changed that, and Gregg Popovich is the leading example so far in the sports world. Athletes and coaches are finding their voice in a way that is reminiscent of the '60s. This makes sense because sports are no longer an escape from the real world but much more a mirror of our society. Because Trump is so controversial, it makes sense to me that people from all walks of life, including sports, are speaking out.

  2. Mitch McConnell:

    If Democrats wanted these controversial items so badly, they had two years to move them across the floor.

  3. Paul Fisher:

    I think the Fed can and should be ahead, in the sense of that it’s their job to supervise banks, climate change is clearly a material threat to the banks and they have to supervise that... supervisors ought be getting on with this quietly in the background. Most of the banks recognize it’s a financial risk. It shouldn’t be that controversial.

  4. Tom Barlow:

    He was a genius and very down to earth, my mother, who is 87, is a big fan. She said what she likes about him is that he has an edge. Sometimes it is controversial, but that is what makes him real.

  5. Lim Kit Siang:

    It was very controversial circumstances when Gani Patail was sacked. It is a conflict of interest.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

controversial#1#9520#10000

Translations for controversial

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"controversial." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/controversial>.

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