controversial

[US]/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃl/
[UK]/ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːrʃl/
Frequency: Very High

Translation

adj. causing disagreement or argument, sparking controversy

Example Sentences

a controversial and colourful character.

a controversial avant-garde composer.

the government's controversial economic policies.

I suspect he's controversial for effect.

there is plenty of room for disagreement in this controversial area.

skirted the controversial issue.

a controversial song with highly suggestive lyrics.

it is the most controversial issue to come before the Supreme Court.

years of wrangling over a controversial bypass.

a controversial film that set the entertainment world on its ear.

The governor will go to the mat with the legislature over the controversial spending bill.

The controversial experiment involved secretly filming a group of children.

a lawyer with a free-swinging, controversial courtroom style; gave a free-swinging press conference.

Except that HTLV Ⅰ was related to leucemia,the relationship between it and rheumatism is a controversial question.

Conservatives hoped for a rollback of left-wing support for the controversial new legislation.

Chairman refused to commit himself on the controversial subject before making due investigations.

The candidate tried to run away from controversial issues by pretending to be ill.

I'm not sure whether he is trying to be clever or controversial, but either way, such writing smacks of racism.

Real-world Examples

It was controversial when it was ratified. It's controversial today.

Source: CNN Listening Compilation August 2018

My final recommendation may be a little controversial.

Source: Rachel's Classroom: 30-Day Check-in with 105 Words (Including Translations)

You know, your book is about controversial topics. What is controversial about organ donation?

Source: American English dialogue

Tip number seven is again something, a little bit controversial.

Source: Cambridge top student book sharing

People don't want all that controversial stuff.

Source: BoJack Horseman Season 2

However, engaging men in the movement would prove quite controversial.

Source: TED Talks (Video Version) September 2015 Collection

The tech-crime fighting software is somewhat controversial.

Source: 2019 New Year Special Edition

Now this is by far the most controversial of all the various reasons.

Source: CNN 10 Student English January 2022 Collection

But why are these 1.12 hectares of land so controversial?

Source: CNN 10 Student English of the Month

Next up, kind of controversial, but I think it needs to be said.

Source: Quick Tips for TOEFL Writing

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