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 controversy continues to dog the administration back in Washington, particularly on Capitol Hill.
—
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The big five issues that business leaders deal with—geopolitics, technology, economics, social issues and the environment—are all full of controversy and uncertainty.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Steele made her debut on the mothership series’ second season as Marissa Gold, the only daughter of Eli Gold (Alan Cumming), who helped Peter Florick (Chris Noth) during multiple controversies, both political and otherwise.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
That controversy, though, also helped to make the book an international bestseller.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Christian Edwards, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
The big five issues that business leaders deal with—geopolitics, technology, economics, social issues and the environment—are all full of controversy and uncertainty.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Steele made her debut on the mothership series’ second season as Marissa Gold, the only daughter of Eli Gold (Alan Cumming), who helped Peter Florick (Chris Noth) during multiple controversies, both political and otherwise.
—Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 15 Sep. 2025
That controversy, though, also helped to make the book an international bestseller.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for controversy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for controversy
Noun
-
Both sides dramatically hiked tariffs against each other during a months-long dispute earlier this year, disrupting global supply chains.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Tung Tung’s creator, Noxa, is currently involved in a copyright dispute with Steal A Brainrot, which resulted in the character disappearing from the game.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Unlike traditional campus speakers who delivered lectures in auditoriums, Kirk would grab a microphone, often in busy campus hubs, and invite debate from anyone in the audience.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
Refugeoly is a game that enables discussion and debate; the game helps to trigger conversations that are needed more than ever.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Student accused of mocking Charlie Kirk death Camryn Giselle Booker, a student at Texas Tech University, was arrested on charges of assault after an altercation with students mourning the death of Charlie Kirk.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Campus police arrested a student at Texas Tech University in connection to an altercation with students who were mourning the death of Charlie Kirk, officials confirmed.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
-
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
Noun
-
Living in conservative spaces has showed me something worrisome about how my generation treats disagreement.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The dialogue seems to arise from a disagreement within; the words that her characters speak feel hard-won in a secret battle.—
Nicole Flattery,
Harpers Magazine,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
However, lovers’ quarrels or difficulty dealing with children (hissy fits or meltdowns) might occur.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
16 Sep. 2025
-
The outcome of that long-simmering family quarrel is never really in much doubt, but there are still a few neat surprises involving a couple of rare bottles of whiskey and the fate of two family businesses.—
Stephen Farber,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
That’s a tough argument to make when $1 billion per year for the next 20 years is directed to the high-speed rail boondoggle.—
Jon Coupal,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
-
So my argument is does the value of that work made wildly less important, valuable or worthy because it didn’t get crowned with the statue?—
Anna Tingley,
Variety,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
What looked like a fair fight in the early 2010s — Everton finished above Liverpool in the final two seasons of Moyes’ first spell in charge — is very different in 2025.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
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Perhaps nowhere was the fight over meaning as pronounced as with the cryptic messages etched into the bullet cartridges by the shooter.—
Geoff Brumfiel,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Controversy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/controversy. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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