Master confusing words with ease
Contentious vs. Controversial
Contentious
/kənˈtenʃəs/Examples:
The meeting turned contentious over budget cuts.Her speech sparked a contentious debate in the community.Contentious politics often leads to heated arguments.
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Antonyms:
Controversial
/ˌkɒntrəˈvɜːʃəl/Examples:
The artist's new exhibition is highly controversial.Her remarks on the policy were deemed controversial.Debates about the controversial film continue.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- "Contentious" often refers to something that causes or is likely to cause heated arguments, while "controversial" generally indicates something that gives rise to public disagreement or debate.
- Contentious issues are more likely to spark debates that are personal or emotionally charged.
- Controversial topics are often associated with a broader public debate, possibly affecting public opinion or policy.
- Contentious can also describe a person who often argues or disputes, whereas controversial typically does not describe people but issues.
- If you think about a courtroom, judges might deal with contentious cases, while controversial might be more about public opinion outside the courtroom.
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