| 1. disputable, debatable, tending to cause differences of opinion. controversialcon`tro*versial , a. [cf. ll. controversialis.] relating to, or consisting of, controversy; disputatious; polemical; as, controversial divinity. whole libraries of controversial books.controversial marked by or capable of arousing controversy; the issue of the death penalty is highly controversial; rushdie's controversial book; a controversial decision on affirmative action [ant: uncontroversial] |