polemical
adjective
po·lem·i·cal
pə-ˈle-mi-kəl 
variants
or less commonly polemic
1
: of, relating to, or being a polemic : controversial
2
: engaged in or addicted to polemics : disputatious
Examples of polemical in a Sentence
during the Middle Ages even theologians could be surprisingly polemical in their writings
an unnecessarily polemical look at the supposed incompatibility between science and religion
Recent Examples on the Web
This book is exactly the kind of radical pamphlet Zinn cites as an essential American form: polemical ideas, plainly written, and published in simple, short volumes that are easily shared and easily hidden away.
—
James Folta, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025
Hernández’s humor has never been political or polemical.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
For too long, Democratic leaders have pulled their polemical punches, seemingly afraid of losing someone’s vote somewhere or offending the Beltway ideal of staying safely within the cocoon of Reagan-O’Neill bipartisanship.
—Mark Green, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
The unlikely success comes as the film remains in headlines past its Oscar victory and its directors’ acceptance speech, which was defiantly polemical amid a largely apolitical ceremony.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polemical
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James Folta, Literary Hub, 30 July 2025
Hernández’s humor has never been political or polemical.
—Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
For too long, Democratic leaders have pulled their polemical punches, seemingly afraid of losing someone’s vote somewhere or offending the Beltway ideal of staying safely within the cocoon of Reagan-O’Neill bipartisanship.
—Mark Green, New York Daily News, 20 Apr. 2025
The unlikely success comes as the film remains in headlines past its Oscar victory and its directors’ acceptance speech, which was defiantly polemical amid a largely apolitical ceremony.
—Marc Tracy, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for polemical
Cite this Entry
“Polemical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polemical. Accessed 4 Aug. 2025.
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