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Controversial vs Contested - What's the difference?

controversial | contested |

Contested is a synonym of controversial.



As adjectives the difference between controversial and contested

is that controversial is arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions while contested is controversial; contentious; debated.

As a verb contested is

past tense of contest.

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

    * *

    contested

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • controversial; contentious; debated

    • Verb

    (head)
  • (contest)