collocations.org

Collocations for controversy - noun

ADJECTIVE

considerable, great, major
bitter, fierce (esp. BrE), heated, intense, raging
growing
fresh, further, new, renewed
current, recent
continued, continuing, long-standing, ongoing
public
academic, critical, scholarly (esp. BrE)
ethical, legal, political, scientific
religious, theological

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VERB + controversy

arouse, cause, create, engender, excite (esp. BrE), generate, give rise to
What they are doing is bound to stir up controversy.
fuel, ignite, provoke, spark, spark off, stir, stir up, trigger
be dogged by (esp. BrE), be marked by, be surrounded by
This year's championships have been marked by controversy.
avoid, shy away from
The president seemed anxious to avoid controversy about these appointments.
end, quell, resolve, settle
Public funding could resolve the controversy surrounding campaign finance.
run into (BrE)
The network ran into controversy over claims of faked documentary footage.
be no stranger to
Ms Benjamin, who is no stranger to controversy herself, said the scandal could have serious repercussions.
court
The singer deliberately courts controversy with his lyrics.

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controversy + VERB

arise, break out, erupt
A fierce controversy has broken out over the issue.
rage
Controversy is raging over the route of the new road.
exist
Controversy exists as to how safe these drugs are.
continue, persist
Today, the controversy continues over whether Shakespeare wrote all his plays.
centre/center on sth
The controversy centred/centered on the issue of compensation for the victims.
surround sth
Much controversy surrounds the new exam.

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PREPOSITION

amid controversy
He has resigned amid continuing controversy over his expense claims.
controversy about, controversy concerning, controversy over
There has been a lot of controversy over the use of these drugs.
controversy among
controversy among historians
controversy between
controversy between the two leaders
controversy surrounding
the bitter controversy surrounding the introduction of the new regulations
controversy with
her long-running controversy with fellow academics

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PHRASES

a matter of controversy, a source of controversy, a subject of controversy
a firestorm of controversy (AmE), a storm of controversy
The book raised a storm of controversy.

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