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Polemic vs Controversial - What's the difference?

polemic | controversial |

As adjectives the difference between polemic and controversial

is that polemic is having the characteristics of a polemic while controversial is arousing controversy—a debate or discussion of opposing opinions.

As a noun polemic

is a person who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant.

polemic

English

Alternative forms

* polemick (obsolete)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A person who writes in support of one opinion, doctrine, or system, in opposition to another; one skilled in polemics; a controversialist; a disputant.
  • An argument or controversy.
  • (senseid)A strong verbal or written attack on someone or something.
  • Synonyms

    * (person) controversialist, disputant * (strong verbal or written attack) harangue, screed, rant, tirade

    Derived terms

    * polemical * polemicist

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Having the characteristics of a polemic.
  • Synonyms

    * polemical

    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

    See also

    * disputatious * polemical * disputable * controvertible * debatable