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Divisive vs Controversial - What's the difference?

divisive | controversial |

As adjectives the difference between divisive and controversial

is that divisive is having a quality that divides or separates while controversial is arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.

divisive

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having a quality that divides or separates
    • Rather than fostering unity, he becomes divisive .

    Antonyms

    * combinative

    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

    * *