What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
controversialize
Example
The politician's statement controversialized the issue and sparked a heated debate. [controversialize: verb]
Example
The article controversialized the topic of climate change, leading to a lively discussion among readers. [controversializing: gerund or present participle]
contest
Example
The athlete decided to contest the referee's call and challenge the ruling. [contest: verb]
Example
The spelling bee was a fierce contest between the top two finalists. [contest: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Contest is more commonly used than controversialize in everyday language. Contest is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while controversialize is less common and may be considered more technical or academic.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between controversialize and contest?
Both controversialize and contest can be used in formal and informal contexts, but controversialize may be considered more formal or technical due to its less common usage.
