controversial decision

Meaning

1. 1nouncountable

   A choice or judgment that causes strong disagreement or public argument.

   Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a' or in the plural: 'a controversial decision', 'controversial decisions'.

   Patterns

   • make a controversial decision
   • a controversial decision about something
   • a controversial decision to do something

   The company's controversial decision to close the factory led to protests.

   Her controversial decision to change the team's strategy surprised everyone.

   The court made a controversial decision that many people disagreed with.

Common combinations

make a controversial decision

The mayor made a controversial decision to ban cars from the city center.

a controversial decision about something

There was a controversial decision about the new school boundaries.

a controversial decision to do something

The government's controversial decision to raise taxes angered many voters.

highly controversial decision

The referee's highly controversial decision changed the outcome of the match.

Synonyms and how they differ

contentious decision

More formal; often used in legal or political contexts where people actively argue.

disputed decision

Focuses on the fact that people disagree and question it, rather than on the strong public reaction.

debatable decision

Suggests that reasonable people can have different opinions, but not necessarily strong conflict.

Opposites

Word family

controversy noun

Public disagreement or debate about something.

controversially adverb

In a way that causes disagreement.

controversial adjective

Causing strong disagreement.

Commonly confused: controversial decision or controversy?

Practice

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