Skip to content
Dictionary

controversial

/ˌkɑːntrəˈvɜːrʃl/
B2adjective

Causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement because people have strong opposing opinions.

Concreteness 1.5/5 · Abstract

Tiếng Việt

gây tranh cãi

kon-trơ-VƠ-shồ

Nhấn mạnh vào âm tiết thứ ba 'VƠ'. Âm 'shl' ở cuối đọc nhẹ như 'shồ'.

Gây ra nhiều cuộc thảo luận công khai gay gắt và sự bất đồng do mọi người có những ý kiến trái chiều mạnh mẽ.

Meanings

3 meanings

  1. 1Causing a lot of angry public discussion and disagreement.adjectivepolitics

    Gây ra nhiều cuộc thảo luận công khai gay gắt và sự bất đồng ý kiến.

    “The government's decision to increase taxes proved to be highly controversial.”

    “Quyết định tăng thuế của chính phủ đã chứng tỏ là một vấn đề gây tranh cãi cao độ.”

    • Her controversial new play sparked a riot outside the theatre.
    • It is one of the most controversial of London's new office buildings.
    • A highly controversial topic that has divided the nation.
    • The referee made several controversial decisions during the match.

    Thường đi kèm với các trạng từ mức độ mạnh như 'highly', 'deeply' hoặc 'extremely' để nhấn mạnh mức độ tranh cãi.

  2. 2Engaging in or given to controversy; having a tendency to argue or create disputes.adjectivecommunication

    Thích tranh luận hoặc dễ gây ra tranh cãi; có xu hướng tranh cãi hoặc tạo ra các cuộc tranh chấp.

    “The senator was known for his controversial style of debating.”

    “Vị thượng nghị sĩ nổi tiếng với phong cách tranh luận dễ gây tranh cãi của mình.”

    • He was a controversial figure who never shied away from an argument.
    • The author's controversial approach to history has been criticized by many scholars.

    Khi dùng cho người, nó ám chỉ người đó có tính cách hoặc phong cách làm việc khiến người khác phải bàn tán hoặc phản đối.

  3. 3A person or thing that is controversial.nounrare

    Một người hoặc một vật gây tranh cãi.

    “In the debate, he was seen as a controversial among the more moderate speakers.”

    “Trong cuộc tranh luận, ông ta bị coi là một kẻ gây tranh cãi giữa những diễn giả ôn hòa hơn.”

    • The matter was treated as a controversial in the academic circles.

    Cách dùng này rất hiếm gặp trong tiếng Anh hiện đại; thông thường người ta dùng 'controversial figure' thay vì dùng 'controversial' như một danh từ.

Word bank

Common phrases

  • highly controversial
  • deeply controversial
  • extremely controversial
  • prove controversial
  • remain controversial
  • become controversial
  • controversial decision
  • controversial issue
  • controversial figure

Grammar & forms

Grammar

  • countable

Inflections

plural
controversials

Usage patterns

  • highly controversial
  • deeply controversial
  • prove controversial
  • a controversial topic/subject

Avoid mistakes

Common mistakes

  • The decision was very controversal.

    The decision was very controversial.

    Spelling error: the suffix is -ial, not -al.

  • It was a controversial about the new law.

    It was a controversy about the new law.

    Confusing the adjective 'controversial' with the noun 'controversy'.

  • He is more controversialer than before.

    He is more controversial than before.

    Long adjectives use 'more' for comparisons, not the -er suffix.

  • The controversially topic was discussed.

    The controversial topic was discussed.

    Use the adjective 'controversial' to modify the noun, not the adverb.

  • There is a controversial between them.

    There is a controversy between them.

    Using the adjective as a noun in a modern context is grammatically incorrect.

Don't confuse with

  • contentious

    causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial

    “The meeting became contentious.”

    Contentious often describes the atmosphere or the people, while controversial usually describes the topic.

  • contradictory

    mutually opposed or inconsistent

    “The witnesses gave contradictory accounts.”

    Contradictory means things don't match; controversial means people disagree about them.

Academic collocations

Words that pair with "controversial" in formal and academic writing

verb
remainprovebecomegeneratespark
adjective
highlydeeplyfiercelysociallypolitically
noun
issuedecisionpolicymeasurefigure
preposition
withinamongfor

In context

Real-world examples

  • social media

    The new social media law is highly controversial among Vietnamese youth.

    Luật truyền thông xã hội mới đang gây tranh cãi gay gắt trong giới trẻ Việt Nam.

    Vietnam has a high rate of social media usage, making regulations in this area a hot topic of debate.

  • business

    The CEO's decision to cut bonuses proved to be controversial within the company.

    Quyết định cắt giảm tiền thưởng của Giám đốc điều hành đã gây ra nhiều tranh cãi trong nội bộ công ty.

    In Vietnamese corporate culture, Tet bonuses and performance rewards are highly sensitive topics.

  • academic

    Whether to preserve old colonial buildings or replace them with skyscrapers is a controversial issue in Hanoi.

    Việc nên bảo tồn các tòa nhà thuộc địa cũ hay thay thế chúng bằng các tòa nhà chọc trời là một vấn đề gây tranh cãi ở Hà Nội.

    Urban planning and heritage preservation are major points of discussion in rapidly developing Vietnamese cities.

  • daily life

    Wearing casual clothes to a traditional wedding can be controversial in rural areas.

    Mặc quần áo bình thường đi dự một đám cưới truyền thống có thể gây ra nhiều ý kiến trái chiều ở các vùng nông thôn.

    Vietnamese culture places high importance on formal attire at traditional ceremonies to show respect.

Notes for Vietnamese speakers

  • In Vietnam, 'controversial' often translates to 'gây tranh cãi' or 'nhạy cảm' (sensitive). Depending on the context, Vietnamese people might avoid direct confrontation even if a topic is controversial.
  • The term 'gây tranh cãi' is frequently seen in Vietnamese news headlines regarding celebrity scandals, policy changes, or environmental issues.
  • Cultural norms regarding 'face-saving' can influence how controversial opinions are expressed in public vs. private settings.

Etymology

Late 16th century: from late Latin 'controversialis', from 'controversia' (see controversy). The root combines 'contra-' (against) and 'versus' (turned), literally meaning 'turned against'. Source: Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology.

Exam levels

IELTS

6.5

CEFR

B2

TOEIC

705-800

More in Vietnamese

Plant “controversial” in your grove

Save it as a seed, review it on a spaced schedule, and harvest it once you can use it yourself.

Start your grove