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Meaning of controversy in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈkɑntrəˌvərsi/

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  1. Noun

    controversy

    Etymology

    late Middle English: from Latin controversia, from controversus‘turned against, disputed’, from contro- (variant of contra-‘against’) + versus, past participle of vertere‘to turn’

    Definitions

    1. a contentious speech act

    Examples

    • « a dispute where there is strong disagreement »
    • « they were involved in a violent argument »

    Derived terms

    • altercate
    • argue
    • argufy
    • challenge
    • contend
    • contest
    • debate
    • dispute
    • fence
    • gainsay
    • quarrel
    • repugn
    • scrap

Famous quotes

  • « Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the danger of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. »
    Thomas John Watson, Sr.
  • « Controversy is part of the nature of art and creativity. »
    Yoko Ono
  • « I discovered something amazing, which has caused a lot of controversy - the fountain of youth. I have to keep it a secret! »
    David Copperfield
  • « Follow the path of the unsafe, independent thinker. Expose your ideas to the dangers of controversy. Speak your mind and fear less the label of 'crackpot' than the stigma of conformity. And on issues that seem important to you, stand up and be counted at any cost. »
    Chauncey Depew
  • « For any new technology there is always controversy and there always some fear associated with it. I think that's just the price of being first sometimes. »
    Hugh Grant

Browse dictionary

  • controversially
  • controversialist
  • controversial
  • control tower
  • controversy
  • controvert
  • contumacious
  • contumaciously
  • contumacy
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