Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 Controvertist · Con·tro·ver·tist · IPA /ˌkɒntɹəˈvɜː(ɹ)tɪst/ 01 n. One skilled in or given to controversy; a controversialist. 1. One skilled in or given to controversy; a controversialist. “How unfriendly is the controvertist to the discernment of the critic!” — Campbell.