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
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
controversialadjective
Arousing controversya debate or discussion of opposing opinions.
Etymology: From controversia + -al; see controversy.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
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
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
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
Controversialadjective
relating to, or consisting of, controversy; disputatious; polemical; as, controversial divinity
Etymology: [Cf. LL. controversialis.]
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'controversial' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #4266
Adjectives Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'controversial' in Adjectives Frequency: #571
Usage in printed sourcesFrom:
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Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of controversial in Chaldean Numerology is: 4
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of controversial in Pythagorean Numerology is: 9
Examples of controversial in a Sentence
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.
If Democrats wanted these controversial items so badly, they had two years to move them across the floor.
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.
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.
It was very controversial circumstances when Gani Patail was sacked. It is a conflict of interest.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for controversial
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- مثيرة للجدلArabic
- споренBulgarian
- controvertitCatalan, Valencian
- kontroverzní, spornýCzech
- kontroversiel, omstridtDanish
- kontrovers, umstrittenGerman
- αμφιλεγόμενοςGreek
- kontestindaEsperanto
- controversial, controvertidoSpanish
- vastuolulineEstonian
- kiistelty, kiistanalainenFinnish
- umstríddurFaroese
- controversé, polémiqueFrench
- conspóideach, aighneasachIrish
- connspaideach, connsachailScottish Gaelic
- שנויה במחלוקת, שנוי במחלוקתHebrew
- vitás, vitatott, nagy port kavaróHungarian
- վիճահարույցArmenian
- disputabilInterlingue
- umdeildurIcelandic
- 論議の的Japanese
- ចម្រូងចម្រាស់Khmer
- controversumLatin
- pretrunīgs, kontroversiāls, strīdīgsLatvian
- omstredenDutch
- kontroversiellNorwegian
- kontrowersyjnyPolish
- polémicoPortuguese
- controversabil, polemizat, discutabil, controversatRomanian
- спорныйRussian
- kontrovèrzanSerbo-Croatian
- kontraverzný, spornýSlovak
- omstridd, kontroversiellSwedish
- ที่เถียงกันThai
- tartışmalı, çelişmeli, ihtilaflıTurkish
- суперечливийUkrainian
- gây tranh cãiVietnamese
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"controversial." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 16 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/controversial>.
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