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I've been asked a lot about the state of dubstep in America, and everyone wants me to say something controversial, but I have no negative feelings toward anything, really.
James Blake

Meaning of "controversial" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

PRONUNCIATION OF CONTROVERSIAL

controversial  [ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF CONTROVERSIAL

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Controversial is an adjective.
The adjective is the word that accompanies the noun to determine or qualify it.

WHAT DOES CONTROVERSIAL MEAN IN ENGLISH?

controversial

Controversy

Controversy is a state of prolonged public dispute or debate, usually concerning a matter of conflicting opinion or point of view. The word was coined from the Latin controversia, as a composite of controversus – "turned in an opposite direction," from contra – "against" – and vertere – to turn, or versus, hence, "to turn against." The most applicable or well known controversial subjects, topics or areas are politics, religion and sex. Other areas of controversy include history and philosophy. Other minor yet prominent areas of controversy are economics, science, finances, culture, education, the military, society, celebrities, organisation, the media, age, gender, and race. Controversy in matters of theology has traditionally been particularly heated, giving rise to the phrase odium theologicum. Controversial issues are held as potentially divisive in a given society, because they can lead to tension and ill will, as a result they are often taboo to be discussed in the light of company in many cultures.

Definition of controversial in the English dictionary

The definition of controversial in the dictionary is giving rise to controversy.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH CONTROVERSIAL


anticommercial
ˌæntɪkəˈmɜːʃəl
commercial
kəˈmɜːʃəl
court-martial
ˌkɔːtˈmɑːʃəl
crucial
ˈkruːʃəl
fecial
ˈfiːʃəl
Herschel
ˈhɜːʃəl
impartial
ɪmˈpɑːʃəl
inertial
ɪˈnɜːʃəl
infomercial
ˌɪnfəˈmɜːʃəl
marshal
ˈmɑːʃəl
Marshall
ˈmɑːʃəl
martial
ˈmɑːʃəl
noncommercial
ˌnɒnkəˈmɜːʃəl
noncontroversial
ˌnɒnkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl
partial
ˈpɑːʃəl
semicommercial
ˌsɛmɪkəˈmɜːʃəl
tertial
ˈtɜːʃəl
ultracommercial
ˌʌltrəkəˈmɜːʃəl
uncommercial
ˌʌnkəˈmɜːʃəl
uncontroversial
ˌʌnkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE CONTROVERSIAL

controlled
controlled drug
controlled explosion
controller
controllership
controlling
controlling interest
controlment
controls
controverse
controversialism
controversialist
controversially
controversies
controversy
controvert
controverter
controvertible
controvertibly
controvertist

WORDS THAT END LIKE CONTROVERSIAL

ambrosial
apophysial
carnassial
diapophysial
ecclesial
epiphysial
gymnasial
hypophysial
hysteresial
loessial
magnesial
mesial
monochasial
nasial
parapophysial
rickettsial
sial
symposial
trophesial
zygapophysial

Synonyms and antonyms of controversial in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

SYNONYMS OF «CONTROVERSIAL»

The following words have a similar or identical meaning as «controversial» and belong to the same grammatical category.
synonyms of controversial

Translation of «controversial» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF CONTROVERSIAL

Find out the translation of controversial to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of controversial from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «controversial» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

有争议的
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

polémico
570 millions of speakers

English

controversial
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

विवादास्पद
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

جَدَلِيّ
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

спорный
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

controverso
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

বিতর্কমূলক
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

polémique
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Kontroversi
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

umstritten
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

論争の
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

논쟁의
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Kontroversial
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

gây tranh cãi
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

சர்ச்சைக்குரிய
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

वादग्रस्त
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

tartışmalı
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

controverso
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

kontrowersyjny
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

скандальний
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

controversat
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

αμφιλεγόμενος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

omstrede
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

kontroversiell
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

kontroversiell
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of controversial

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «CONTROVERSIAL»

The term «controversial» is very widely used and occupies the 10.010 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
96
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «controversial» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of controversial
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «controversial».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «CONTROVERSIAL» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «controversial» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «controversial» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about controversial

EXAMPLES

10 QUOTES WITH «CONTROVERSIAL»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word controversial.
1
Dean Acheson
Controversial proposals, once accepted, soon become hallowed.
2
Jane Alexander
Senator Helms might very well do that. I would point out to him that we in the art world are not necessarily in the business of making controversial art.
3
Julian Assange
If journalism is good, it is controversial, by its nature.
4
Rob Bell
When someone sets out to be controversial or provocative or shocking as an end in itself, I don't think that's a noble goal.
5
James Blake
I've been asked a lot about the state of dubstep in America, and everyone wants me to say something controversial, but I have no negative feelings toward anything, really.
6
Bjorn Borg
I was fascinated by a compelling character embroiled in a controversial topic that told the story from a different point of view.
7
Robert Brady
Thirty years ago, in 1976, the notion of organized activity to combat discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity was an extremely controversial one.
8
Adam Brody
I like an interesting movie even if it's controversial or offensive, depending on your taste.
9
David Chalmers
Sense data are much more controversial than qualia, because they are associated with a controversial theory of perception - that one perceives the world by perceiving one's sense-data, or something like that.
10
Dick Cheney
I worked for George Bush. I'm proud to have worked for him. I think that a lot of the most controversial things we did, that people didn't like and - and criticized us for, things like the terror surveillance program or the enhanced interrogation techniques, were things that allowed us to save lives.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «CONTROVERSIAL»

Discover the use of controversial in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to controversial and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
Controversial New Religions
This book will be an invaluable resource for all those who seek a view of New Religions that is deeper than what can be found in sensationalistic newspaper stories or on the six o'clock news.
James R. Lewis, Jesper Aagaard Petersen, 2005
2
Controversial Drug Plants
This Is Sometimes Owing To Ignorance And In Other Cases, An Attempt By Unscrupulous Manufacturers Taking Advantage Of This Demand. The Book Differentiates Between Adulterants, Substitutes And Genuine Drugs.
R. Vasudevan Nair, 2004
3
Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother
I guarantee that if you read the book, there'll undoubtedly be places where you'll cringe in recognition, and others where you'll tear up in empathy.” –San Francisco Chronicle “Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother hit the parenting hot ...
Amy Chua, 2011
4
Vaccine: The Controversial Story of Medicine's Greatest ...
A definitive history of vaccination ranges from Edward Jenner's 1796 creation of the world's first smallpox inoculation to the present day, looking at both the benefits of vaccination as well as the current controversy over their potential ...
Arthur Allen, 2007
5
The Hindus: An Alternative History
Wendy Doniger is one of the foremost scholars of Hinduism in the world. With her inimitable insight and expertise Doniger illuminates those moments within the tradition that resist forces that would standardize or establish a canon.
Wendy Doniger, 2010
6
Press Bias and Politics: How the Media Frame Controversial ...
This book asserts that such a bias hurts the democratic process by ignoring non-mainstream left positions and vilifying many moderate and most right-leaning positions, leaving only a narrow brand of liberal thought supported by the ...
Jim A. Kuypers, 2002
7
The Most Controversial Decision: Truman, the Atomic Bombs, ...
This book explores the American use of atomic bombs and the role these weapons played in the defeat of the Japanese Empire in World War II. It focuses on President Harry S. Truman's decision-making regarding this most controversial of all ...
Wilson D. Miscamble, 2011
8
Controversial Issues In Prisons
The book concludes with a discussion of why it remains important to make penal controversies visible, challenge penological illiteracy and provide alternative means of responding to human wrongdoing rooted in the principles of human rights ...
Scott, David, Codd, Helen, 2010
9
Controversial Science: From Content to Contention
Paper edition (unseen), $19.95. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR
Thomas Brante, Steve Fuller, William Lynch, 1993
10
Controversial Bodies: Thoughts on the Public Display of ...
These displays have been lauded as educational, sparked protests, and drawn millions of visitors. This book looks at the powerful sway these corpses hold over their living audiences everywhere.
John D. Lantos, 2011

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «CONTROVERSIAL»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term controversial is used in the context of the following news items.
1
Amy Schumer 'taking responsibility' for controversial joke
Comedian Amy Schumer is “taking responsibility” for a joke she made on her Comedy Central show that has come under scrutiny in recent ... «MSNBC, Jul 15»
2
Back To School: Congress Takes Up Controversial Education Bill
The U.S. House will try again this week to pass a Republican rewrite of the No Child Left Behind education law, with party leaders seeking to ... «Bloomberg, Jul 15»
3
Search firm has history of controversial picks
Some Nashville groups are calling the field of Metro Schools superintendent candidates underwhelming amid growing calls to delay the search ... «The Tennessean, Jul 15»
4
Bill Cosby scandal is the latest chapter in quaaludes' controversial
The Wolf of Wall Street Leonaro DiCaprio demonstrates the effects of excessive quaalude consumption on the set of The Wolf of Wall Street ... «The Guardian, Jul 15»
5
Andrew Cuomo: Mayoral Control Was a 'Very Controversial' Issue
Andrew Cuomo declared today that mayoral control of public schools is a “very controversial issue”–and implied a one-year renewal was the ... «New York Observer, Jul 15»
6
Controversial Facebook 'gender equality' redesign puts women on …
Facebook has joined in the battle for gender equality with a small redesign which puts women up front. Designer Caitlin Winner reworked a tiny ... «Mirror.co.uk, Jul 15»
7
Paula Deen's controversial photo is four years old; social media …
Paula Deen drew ire on Tuesday following the posting of an image of herself and son Bobby dressed as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo from the old “I ... «Atlanta Journal Constitution, Jul 15»
8
Fight over controversial Lake Merritt condo tower is not over
The fight, it seemed, was over. On June 17, the Oakland City Council voted to approve a controversial apartment tower on a plot of public land ... «SFGate, Jul 15»
9
Analysis: Colonel's promotion signals all clear on controversial
The report quoted a controversial December 2014 interview Givati Brigade commander Winter gave about the incident to Yediot Aharonot in ... «Jerusalem Post Israel News, Jul 15»
10
Ryan Reynolds Speaks Out on Controversial Way He Carried Baby
After Reynolds' wife, Blake Lively, posted the controversial image on Instagram June 21, fans immediately began firing off comments warning ... «Yahoo Parenting, Jul 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Controversial [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/controversial>. Apr 2024 ».
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