adjective
controversial
kon-truh-VUR-shuhl
adjective
1
Causing or likely to cause strong disagreement or public debate.
"The new tax law proved deeply controversial."
"She made a controversial decision to cut funding for the program."
How to Use Controversial
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLikely to spark disagreement or public argument.
Common pairings
controversial decision
highly controversial
controversial figure
Word Forms
more controversial comparative, controversials plural, most controversial superlative
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The new tax law proved deeply _____.
Etymology
From Latin controversialis, from controversia ("controversy") plus -alis; built from controversy plus -al.