controversy synonym | Thesaurus.com

Main Entry:	controversy
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	debate, dispute
Synonyms:	altercation, argument, beef, brush, contention, difference, discussion, disputation, embroilment, falling-out, flak, fuss, hurrah, miff, quarrel, row, rumpus, scene, scrap, squabble, strife, tiff*, words, wrangle, bickering, dissention, polemic, wrangling
Antonyms:	accord, agreement, forbearance, harmony, peace, quiet

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	altercation
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	fight, often verbal
Synonyms:	argument, beef, blowup, bone of contention, brawl, brush, combat, contest, controversy, dispute, embroilment, flap, fracas, fuss, go, hassle, quarrel, row, rumble, run-in, tiff, words, wrangle, bickering, set-to, squabbling
Antonyms:	agreement, concord, harmony, peace, union, unity

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	cause célèbre
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	controversial issue
Synonyms:	bone of contention, controversy, debate, moot point, scandal, celebrated case, grist for the gossip mill, hot potato, political football, war of words

Main Entry:	competition
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	contest
Synonyms:	antagonism, bout, candidacy, championship, clash, contention, controversy, encounter, engagement, event, fight, game, go for it, jungle, match, meeting, opposition, puzzle, quiz, race, racing, rat race, rivalry, run, sport, strife, striving, struggle, tilt, tournament, trial, warfare, athletic event, concours, counteraction, do or die, dog eat dog, emulation, go for the gold, horse race, matchup, one on one, one-upping, pairing off, tug-of-war
Notes:	competition refers to an abstract quality, whereas competitiveness implies a practical activity whose manifestation can be observed

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	debate
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	discussion of issues; consideration
Synonyms:	agitation, altercation, argument, cogitation, contention, contest, controversy, deliberation, dialectic, disputation, dispute, forensic, hassle, match, meditation, reflection, tiff, words, wrangle, argumentation, blah-blah, controverting, mooting, polemic, rebutting, refuting
Antonyms:	agreement

Main Entry:	discussion
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	talk with another
Synonyms:	altercation, analysis, argument, canvass, colloquy, conference, consideration, consultation, contention, controversy, conversation, debate, deliberation, dialogue, discourse, disputation, dispute, dissertation, examination, exchange, huddle, interview, meet, meeting, powwow*, quarrel, review, scrutiny, symposium, ventilation, argumentation, confabulation, excursus, groupthink, wrangling
Antonyms:	quiet, silence

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	dispute
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	argument
Synonyms:	altercation, beef, bone of contention, brawl, broil, brouhaha, commotion, conflict, contention, controversy, debate, difference of opinion, disagreement, discord, discussion, dissension, disturbance, embroilment, falling-out, feud, fireworks, flare-up, fracas, friction, fuss, hubbub, miff, misunderstanding, quarrel, row, rumpus*, squabble, squall, strife, tiff, uproar, variance, words, wrangle, bickering, polemic
Antonyms:	agreement

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	dissension
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	conflict of opinion
Synonyms:	altercation, argument, contention, controversy, difference, disagreement, discord, dispute, dissent, dissidence, faction, flak*, friction, fuss, quarrel, scene, static, strife, trouble, variance, wrangle, bad vibes, bickering, clinker, disaccord, discordance, disunity, factionalism, sour note
Antonyms:	agreement, approval, authorization, concurrence, confirmation, peace, ratification

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	feud
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	major argument; estrangement
Synonyms:	altercation, bad blood, broil, combat, conflict, contention, contest, controversy, disagreement, discord, dispute, dissension, enmity, faction, fight, fracas, grudge, hostility, quarrel, rivalry, row, run-in*, squabble, strife, vendetta, bickering, falling out
Antonyms:	agreement, friendship, comradeship

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	fuss
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	disturbance, trouble
Synonyms:	ado, agitation, altercation, argument, bother, broil, bustle, commotion, complaint, confusion, controversy, difficulty, display, dispute, excitement, falling-out, fight, flap, flurry, flutter, fret, furor, hassle, objection, palaver, perturbation, quarrel, row, ruckus, scene, squabble, stew, stink, stir, storm, to-do*, turmoil, unrest, upset, worry, bickering, kick-up, wingding
Antonyms:	calm, peace

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	quarrel
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	disagreement
Synonyms:	affray, altercation, argument, battle royal, beef, brawl, breach, broil, combat, commotion, complaint, contention, controversy, difference, difference of opinion, difficulty, disapproval, discord, disputation, dispute, dissension, dissidence, disturbance, dust, falling-out, feud, fight, fisticuffs, fracas, fray, fuss, hassle, misunderstanding, objection, rhubarb, row, ruckus, run-in, scrap, spat, squabble, strife, struggle, tiff, tumult, vendetta, wrangle, bickering, brannigan, catfight, set-to
Antonyms:	agreement, peace

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	squabble
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	argument
Synonyms:	altercation, controversy, difference, difference of opinion, disagreement, dispute, feud, fight, flap, fuss, hassle, quarrel, row, scene, scrap, spat, tiff, words, wrangle, bickering, set-to
Antonyms:	agreement, concurrence

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	strife
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	struggle, battle
Synonyms:	affray, altercation, animosity, argument, blowup, brawl, clash, combat, competition, conflict, contention, contest, controversy, difference, disagreement, discord, dispute, dissension, dissent, dissidence, faction, fighting, friction, fuss, hassle, quarrel, rivalry, spat, squabble, static, striving, tug of war*, variance, warfare, words, wrangle, bickering, disunity, emulation, factionalism, squabbling, wrangling
Antonyms:	success, victory

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	unrest
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	state of agitation; disturbance
Synonyms:	altercation, anarchy, annoyance, anxiety, bother, chagrin, change, confusion, contention, controversy, crisis, debate, disaffection, discontent, discord, disease, disquiet, dissatisfaction, dissension, distress, dither*, ennui, grief, insurrection, irritation, malaise, mortification, perturbation, protest, quarrel, rebellion, restlessness, sedition, sorrow, strife, tension, trouble, tumult, turmoil, uneasiness, uproar, upset, vexation, worry, bickering, moodiness, perplexity, tizzy, unease
Antonyms:	calm, harmony, peace, rest

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	wrangle
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	fight, argument
Synonyms:	altercation, battle royal, blowup, brawl, brouhaha, clash, contest, controversy, disagreement, dispute, exchange, falling-out, flap, fracas, hassle, quarrel, row, ruckus, rumble, rumpus, scene, squabble, tiff, bickering, blow-off, brannigan, knock-down drag-out, ruction, set-to
Antonyms:	agreement, peace

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	bone of contention
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	difference of opinion
Synonyms:	altercation, argument, beef, conflict, controversy, debate, disagreement, dispute, issue, problem, apple of discord, grounds for war, matter at hand, point in question, sore point, tender spot

Main Entry:	cause celebre
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	celebrated case
Synonyms:	affair, controversy, debate, fuss, rumor, scandal, uproar, controversial case, controversial issue, grist for the gossip mill, hot potato, matter of the moment, political football, talk of the town, topic of the day, war of words

Main Entry:	argument
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	verbal fight
Synonyms:	altercation, beef, blowup, bone, bone of contention, brawl, brush, clash, controversy, debate, difference of opinion, disagreement, dispute, donnybrook, exchange, falling, feud, flap, fuss, go, hassle, out, quarrel, rhubarb, romp, row, ruckus, rumpus, run-in, scene, scrap, shindy, spat, squabble, static, stew, tiff, words, wrangle, bickering, bone to pick, brannigan, crusher, dustup, face-off, finisher, gin, knock down and drag out, knockdown*, ruction, set-to, talking heads

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	contention
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	competition
Synonyms:	altercation, argument, battle, beef, bone of contention, combat, conflict, contest, controversy, difference, discord, dispute, dissension, dissent, dissidence, enmity, fight, flak, hassle, hostility, quarrel, rivalry, run-in, scene, scrap, squabble, static, strife, struggle, variance, war, wrangle, belligerency, bone to pick, disaccord, disunity, feuding, set-to, wrangling
Antonyms:	affection, consideration, friendliness, friendship, good will, kindness, sympathy

* = informal/non-formal usage

Main Entry:	disagreement
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	dispute, quarrel
Synonyms:	altercation, animosity, antagonism, argument, breach, break, clash, clashing, conflict, contention, contest, controversy, debate, difference, discord, dissent, dissidence, division, feud, fight, friction, hassle, hostility, ill will, jarring, misunderstanding, opposition, rupture, spat, split, squabble, strife, tension, variance, vendetta, words, wrangle, atmospherics, bickering, cross-purposes, disunion, disunity, divisiveness, falling out, ill feeling
Antonyms:	acquiescence, agreement, harmony, peace