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controversy - 20 thesaurus results
| 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 |
Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009 by the Philip Lief Group.
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2009, Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.

