Controversial
Controversial adjective - Relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions.
Progressive and controversial are semantically related. In some cases you can use "Progressive" instead an adjective "Controversial".
Progressive
Progressive adjective - Being far along in development.
Controversial and progressive are semantically related. Sometimes you can use "Controversial" instead an adjective "Progressive".
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
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While he was fairly progressive for the time, enacting a landmark anti-discrimination act, he's also a controversial figure among gay people for his perceived lack of response to the AIDS crisis, opposing needle exchange programs and mandatory AIDS education in schools.
Source: Useful Notes / New York City
Cite this Source
Progressive and Controversial. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/progressive
Controversial & Progressive. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/progressive>.
Progressive or Controversial. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/progressive.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "controversial" and "progressive" have occurred on timeline