n.
1 dispute, debate, contention, argument, argumentation, disputation, wrangling, confrontation, questioning, disagreement:
The inquest went ahead without controversy.
2 argument, dispute, disagreement, quarrel; squabble, tiff, Colloq spat:
Controversy still rages over the theory of natural selection.
noun
ADJ.
considerable, great, major | bitter, fierce, raging, violent | lively
His views have excited a lively controversy among fellow scientists.
| fresh, further, new, renewed | continued, continuing, long-standing, prolonged | public | political | religious, theological | academic, critical, scholarly
VERB + CONTROVERSY
arouse, cause, create, excite, fuel, give rise to, provoke, spark (off), stir up
What they are doing is bound to stir up controversy.
| be dogged by, be marked by, be riven by, be surrounded by
This year's championships have been dogged by controversy.
| avoid
The prime minister seemed anxious to avoid controversy about these appointments.
| run into
The network ran into controversy over claims of faked documentary footage.
| be no stranger to
The MP, who is no stranger to controversy herself, said the scandal could have serious repercussions.
| court
The singer deliberately courts controversy with his racist and sexist lyrics.
CONTROVERSY + VERB
arise, break out
A fierce controversy has broken out over the issue.
| rage
Controversy is raging over the route of the new motorway.
| exist
Controversy exists as to how safe these drugs are.
| centre on sth
The controversy centred on the issue of compensation for the victims.
| surround sth
Much controversy surrounds the new exam.
PREP.
amid ~
The minister has resigned amid continuing controversy over his education proposals.
| ~ about/concerning/over
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of these drugs.
| ~ among
controversy among historians
| ~ between
controversy between the two leaders
| ~ surrounding
the bitter controversy surrounding the introduction of the new regulations
| ~ with
her long-running controversy with fellow academics
PHRASES
a matter/source/subject of controversy, a storm of controversy
The book raised a storm of controversy.
Random quote: Be the chief but never the lord.: Lao Tzu
Latest queries: martyrs, emptiness, loincloth, blessing, predestination, fumbling, ty, reelect, return, sandal, wreck, carelessly, insecticide, ritzy, tortoiseshell, affliction, somebody, formidably, lump sum, controversy,