controversial

[ kon-truh-vur-shuhl ]
/ ˌkɒn trəˈvɜr ʃəl /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of controversy, or prolonged public dispute, debate, or contention; polemical: a controversial book.
subject to controversy; debatable: a controversial decision.
given to controversy; argumentative; disputatious: a controversial public figure.

Origin of controversial

1575–85; < Late Latin contrōversiālis, equivalent to Latin contrōversi(a) controversy + -ālis -al1

SYNONYMS FOR controversial

2 arguable, questionable.

OTHER WORDS FROM controversial

Words nearby controversial

controlled ventilation, controlled-release, controller, controlling image, controlling interest, controversial, controversy, controvert, contumacious, contumacy, contumely

Example sentences from the Web for controversialist