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• n  a person who disputes; who is good at or enjoys controversy

• I happen to think Sean Penn is one of our more admirable knotheads a fearless actor, a bold controversialist and, as he proved with The Pledge, a very strong director, capable .
• There are plenty of people who long ago dismissed Fonda as a professional changeling and controversialist.
• Ann Coulter Conservative controversialist and best-selling author.

• disputant
• eristic

Quotes

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• Michael McDowell in Irish Independent
  Michael McDowell told the Sunday Independent last night: "I won't go back. I will be a private citizen again. I won't be a politician, a journalist or a controversialist. The guillotine has come down."