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What is another word for controversial?

Need synonyms for controversial? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Contexts ▼

Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement

Having a predisposition to argue or engage in confrontations

Tending to stir up conflict, controversy or agitation

Requiring great skill or finesse in handling or treatment

Not supported or proven by evidence

Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech

Favoring, or characterized by, extreme ideas that may be divisive

Of urgent interest or importance

Deviating from mainstream or accepted opinion or dogma

Of, pertaining to, or caused by factions

… more ▼

Adjective

▲

Giving rise or likely to give rise to controversy or public disagreement

between rock and hard place

the jury's out

a controversial subject

a live issue

between sixes and sevens

gray^US

grey^UK

neither fish nor fowl

clear as dishwater

up for grabs

to be decided

neither one thing nor the other

in a state of uncertainty

still open to question

still open to doubt

more ❯

“The controversial move is one aspect of a massive drive to get doctors to intervene with heavy drinkers.”

Adjective

▲

Having a predisposition to argue or engage in confrontations

cavilling^UK

caviling^US

having a chip on one's shoulder

have chip on shoulder

ill-humored^US

criticizing^US

criticising^UK

having got out of bed on the wrong side

nasty-tempered

like a bear with a sore head

as cross as two sticks

hot-blooded

in a mood

having got out of bed the wrong side

short-fused

easily offended

more ❯

“Though original in his views, he too often damaged his cause with his controversial temperament.”

Adjective

▲

Tending to stir up conflict, controversy or agitation

like a red rag to a bull

more ❯

Adjective

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Requiring great skill or finesse in handling or treatment

checkered^US

chequered^UK

agonizing^US

agonising^UK

gruelling^UK

grueling^US

easier said than done

labored^US

laboured^UK

like getting blood out of a stone

toe-curling

enough to try the patience of a saint

enough to drive you up the wall

impossible to cope with

more ❯

Adjective

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Not supported or proven by evidence

not backed up by evidence

without justification

phoney^UK

phony^US

flakey^US

flaky^UK

without substantiation

more ❯

Adjective

▲

Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech

Adjective

▲

Favoring, or characterized by, extreme ideas that may be divisive

more ❯

Adjective

▲

Of urgent interest or importance

of the utmost importance

prioritized^US

prioritised^UK

clamoring^US

clamouring^UK

carrying a lot of weight

more ❯

Adjective

▲

Deviating from mainstream or accepted opinion or dogma

sceptical^UK

skeptical^US

more ❯

Adjective

▲

Of, pertaining to, or caused by factions

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Related Words and Phrases

What is another word for controversial?

Need synonyms for controversial? Here's a list of similar words from our thesaurus that you can use instead.

Related Words and Phrases

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