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Controverse vs Controversial - What's the difference?

controverse | controversial |

As a noun controverse

is controversy.

As a verb controverse

is to controvert.

As an adjective controversial is

arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.

controverse

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (obsolete) Controversy.
  • * 1596 , (Edmund Spenser), The Faerie Queene , IV.4:
    • So fitly now here commeth next in place, / After the proofe of prowesse ended well, / The controverse of beauties soveraine grace […].

    Verb

    (controvers)
  • (obsolete) to controvert

    • Anagrams

    * ----

    controversial

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.
  • * (rfdate) Macaulay:
    • Whole libraries of controversial books.

    Usage notes

    * Nouns often used with "controversial": topic, subject, work, author, method, etc.

    Synonyms

    * contentious * contested

    Antonyms

    * uncontroversial * noncontroversial * incontrovertible

    Derived terms

    * controversialness

    Related terms

    * controversialist * controversiality * controversy * controvert * controverter * controvertible

    See also

    * disputatious * polemical * disputable * controvertible * debatable

    External links

    * *