hot button

noun

: an emotional and usually controversial issue or concern that triggers immediate intense reaction
hot-button adjective

Examples of hot button in a Sentence

The film is considered very controversial for all the hot buttons it pushes.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Corporate support at Pride events has been a hot button issue in years past, with some community members arguing against the commercialization of Pride given its origins as a protest. Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025 The Connecticut Legislature passed numerous bills this session on hot button issues including immigration, child care and special education. Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 9 June 2025 In recent years, as retro gaming and nostalgia goggles have left everyone yearning for throwbacks, the term friction has become a hot button topic. Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2025 His pastoral positions, though, are not well known, as he's rarely spoken out on some of the church's hot button issues. Jorge L. Ortiz, USA Today, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for hot button

Word History

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hot button was in 1966

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Cite this Entry

“Hot button.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot%20button. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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