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US /pəˈlɛmɪkəl/ UK /pəˈlemɪkəl/
Freq #138168

Meanings

  1. 1
  2. 2

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · expressing strong criticism... controversialcontentiousargumentative
2 adj · inclined to engage in... combativedisputatiousquarrelsome
Opposites
conciliatoryuncontroversial
Word family
Derived forms polemically
Related forms polemicpolemicistcontroversy

Etymology

Formed from polemic + -al. Polemic comes through French from Greek polemikos ("warlike, hostile"), from polemos ("war"); the language of warfare was transferred to forceful public argument.

Topics

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