Controversial
Controversial adjective - Relating to or causing the expression of opposing opinions.
Usage example: racial segregation was a controversial topic in the 1960s
Safe is an antonym for controversial.
Safe
Safe adjective - Unlikely to provoke controversy or offense.
Usage example: when chatting with strangers, she prefers to stick to safe topics such as the weather
Controversial is an antonym for safe.
Both words in one sentence
- Bebop was controversial when it first came out, and Bossa Nova made jazz safe again for the mainstream.
Source: Flame War / Music -
The "safe for work" album cover.Click for the original uncensored version The original more controversial cover featuring a Creepy Doll.
Source: Music / Music For Children -
Full-Circle Revolution: A radical Jacobin revolutionary who painted controversial edgy portraits of Republican martyrs ends up becoming a collaborator to a dictator and painting safe portraits of the very wealthy.
Source: Creator / Jacques-Louis David
Cite this Source
Safe and Controversial. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 10, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/safe
Controversial & Safe. N.p., 2016. Web. 10 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/safe>.
Safe or Controversial. 2016. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/controversial/safe.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "controversial" and "safe" have occurred on timeline