to detonate controversy

8.1

To cause a strong public argument that divides people

phrasal verb
/ˈdɛtəˌneɪt ˌkɒntrəˈvɜrsi/

: desatar controversia

The politician's remarks detonated controversy across the nation.

Examples

The new law has detonated controversy across the country.
Why did her comments detonate controversy at the conference?
His statement is expected to detonate controversy within parliament.
Publishing the report will likely detonate controversy among shareholders.
His statement is expected to detonate controversy within parliament.
Publishing the report will likely detonate controversy among shareholders.
The politician's remarks detonated controversy across the nation.

Synonyms

to stir up

vsto detonate controversy

48 4.8

To make people feel strong emotions like anger or fear

is the specific act of creating public disagreement rather than provoking private emotions

to stir the pot

vsto detonate controversy

Informal

8 8.0

To cause trouble by saying things to make people argue

is the broader act of creating public disagreement beyond deliberate group provocation

to cause a stir

vsto detonate controversy

6 4.0

Make people feel excited or upset and attract attention

is the focused act of creating public disagreement rather than merely drawing attention

to stir trouble

vsto detonate controversy

Informal

5 5.3

To cause fights or problems between people on purpose

is the general act of creating public disagreement not limited to local disorder

to spark outrage

vsto detonate controversy

4 5.8

Make many people very angry

is a general action that creates public disagreement without focused anger

to spark debate

vsto detonate controversy

2 3.7

To make people start talking and disagree about a topic

is the broader action of causing public disagreement across issues, not only one topic

to spark a firestorm

vsto detonate controversy

1 7.0

To cause many people to show strong public anger or criticism

is the broader act of creating public disagreement without sudden intensity

to spark a debate

vsto detonate controversy

1 3.7

To cause people to start a strong, lively discussion

is the wider act of creating public disagreement beyond starting a single discussion

to inflame tensions

vsto detonate controversy

Literature

1 7.4

Make people more angry and cause conflict between groups

is the general act of creating public disagreement rather than escalating hostility

to inflame public opinion

vsto detonate controversy

Literature

1 7.7

To make many people feel angry or shocked about something

is the general act of creating public disagreement without intensifying emotion

to stir shit

vsto detonate controversy

Offensive

1 9.9

To say or do things to make others angry and start fights

is the general act of creating public disagreement, not specifically via inflammatory provocation

to spark heated debate

vsto detonate controversy

1 5.4

Cause strong arguments about a topic, often on public issues

is the broader act of causing public disagreement without strong argumentative heat

to open a hornets' nest

vsto detonate controversy

Informal

7.7

To cause a lot of trouble and anger among people

is the general act of creating public disagreement without necessarily producing much trouble

to drop the McNuke

vsto detonate controversy

Slang

9.9

Suddenly bring up a shocking topic to change the tone of a discussion

is the broader act of creating public disagreement, not only sudden topic insertion

to hyperpolarize

vsto detonate controversy

9.6

Make opinions or groups become very divided, often in politics

is the act of creating public disagreement without necessarily causing deep, permanent splits

to stir up drama

vsto detonate controversy

Informal

7.0

To cause trouble between people to get attention

is about causing public disagreement rather than needless or petty emotional disturbance

to shit-stir

vsto detonate controversy

Offensive

9.9

To say or do things that cause arguments and make people angry

is the broader act of creating public disagreement not confined to personal argument spreading

Antonyms

to unite

∞ 2.1

To join people or things into one group for a shared purpose

to reach a consensus

5 3.5

A group of people agree about something after discussion

How Controversial

to inflame public opinion

Literature

1 7.7

to detonate controversy

8.1

to spark heated debate

1 5.4

to spark debate

2 3.7

to raise

∞ 3.2

to mention

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

detonate controversy infinitive

detonated controversy past

detonated controversy past participle

detonating controversy present participle

detonates controversy third person singular

Morphology

detonate + controversy

The literal meanings of 'detonate' (to explode) and 'controversy' (public disagreement) combine to give a clear metaphorical sense of causing an explosive or sudden dispute, so a B1 learner who knows both words can probably infer the intended meaning. However, this is a figurative extension rather than a standard compositional pattern or highly frequent collocation, so the interpretation is not fully predictable without exposure.

Etymology

Detonate controversy comes from the image of an explosion: to detonate is to make something blow up, and that sudden blast is like a fast wave of people arguing about an issue, so to detonate controversy means 'to start a sudden, big public disagreement'.