polemical
Group 4Difficulty 2/3
Definition
- (adjective)
- Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech GRE
Example in Context
The author's polemical essay on education reform provoked fierce debate among policymakers and educators alike.
Synonyms
argumentativecombativedivisive
Etymology
Writing or speech that engages in a verbal war of ideas.
- polemos (Greek) — war
Memory Aid
🪄Sounds like “pole in my mouth”
Imagine a wizard with a POLE stuck in his mouth, arguing fiercely with a dragon — that's POLEMICAL!
Visual Association
⚔️Two scholars in a heated debate, swords clashing, surrounded by scrolls of polemical writings.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “polemical” mean on the GRE?
polemical (adjective) means “Of or involving strongly critical or disputatious writing or speech”. The author's polemical essay on education reform provoked fierce debate among policymakers and educators alike.
How to remember “polemical” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “polemical” sounds like “pole in my mouth”. Imagine a wizard with a POLE stuck in his mouth, arguing fiercely with a dragon — that's POLEMICAL!
What are synonyms for “polemical”?
Common synonyms: argumentative, combative, divisive.