as in contentious
relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions
the new plan raises a number of hot-button issues that are sure to get voters riled up
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as in third rail
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of hot-button
Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The high court, which tries to dispense of pending cases by the end of June, has an unusually large number of decisions pending, particularly on hot button issues.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Sea level rise — mostly due to glacial melt largely caused by anthropogenic climate change — has been a hot button topic for the past half century.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Known for biting jokes that dance around hot button topics including sexism and feminism — but also weed, animals, and The Real Housewives — Treyger recently wrapped filming on Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest, Netflix’s comedy series based on Michelle Buteau’s bestseller of the same name.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Noun
Why Disney’s Bob Iger is trying to avoid hot buttons
Walt Disney Co. and Chief Executive Bob Iger have made a sharp pivot since doubling-down on diversity and inclusion efforts in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in Minneapolis 4½ years ago.
—Ryan Fonseca, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
The high court, which tries to dispense of pending cases by the end of June, has an unusually large number of decisions pending, particularly on hot button issues.
—Bart Jansen, USA TODAY, 20 June 2024
Sea level rise — mostly due to glacial melt largely caused by anthropogenic climate change — has been a hot button topic for the past half century.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
Known for biting jokes that dance around hot button topics including sexism and feminism — but also weed, animals, and The Real Housewives — Treyger recently wrapped filming on Season 2 of Survival of the Thickest, Netflix’s comedy series based on Michelle Buteau’s bestseller of the same name.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for hot-button
Recent Examples of Synonyms for hot-button
Adjective
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Focus on jail incident One of Johnston’s most contentious moments came when Rep. Jim Jordan, an Ohio Republican, asked him about an incident last week involving immigration authorities’ arrest of a man in the parking lot of a Denver jail.—
Elliott Wenzler,
The Denver Post,
5 Mar. 2025
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European stocks are heading for a higher open on Wednesday amid optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump’s 25% duties on Canada and Mexico could be relaxed, with investors also paying attention to the potential reform of Germany’s contentious debt brake system.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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There's also a third rail that's used to attach the camera to the handle and can be used to mount the camera and interface device on a rifle, crossbow, compound bow, or anything with a compatible rail.—
David Szondy,
New Atlas,
18 Feb. 2025
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As previously reported by The News, more than 3,000 riders were stranded in December when the State St. power transformer exploded under Downtown Brooklyn, cutting power to the third rail of the F and the G lines.—
Evan Simko-Bednarski,
New York Daily News,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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But to partially offset the cost, the House makes a different, highly controversial assumption: Extending the TCJA, improving government efficiency, and adopting unspecified changes to federal regulations would raise $2.6 trillion over the next 10 years by boosting economic growth.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes,
7 Mar. 2025
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Between something that felt safer, more glamorous and more crowd pleasing, versus something that was a bit more potentially controversial, or something that some people might understand or not understand.—
Alison Edmond,
The Hollywood Reporter,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hot-button.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/hot-button. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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