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Controversial vs Disputed - What's the difference?

controversial | disputed |

As adjectives the difference between controversial and disputed

is that controversial is arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions while disputed is argued; not certain, agreed upon, or accepted.

As a verb disputed is

past tense of dispute.

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

    * *

    disputed

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Argued; not certain, agreed upon, or accepted.
    • The theory, though common, was widely disputed .

    Verb

    (head)
  • (dispute)
    • They disputed the issue loudly and vehemently.