| APOLOGIST | Supporter of a controversial idea |
| DEVILSADVOCATE | One deliberately introducing a controversial idea to debate |
| INFIDEL | Elected communist, one with controversial ideas |
| KOOP | Author of a controversial 1988 report on the addictiveness of nicotine |
| TONYA | I, ___, biopic of a controversial US figure skater starring 8A in the title role, a performance which earned her an Oscar nomination (5) |
| PHEN | Half of a controversial diet drug |
| ARAB | Subject of a controversial Cure song |
| ATT | One half of a controversial merger |
| ELECTORS | Members of a controversial "college" |
| TEA | Subject of a controversial tax, once |
| PLAYBOYMAGAZINE | Source of a controversial 1976 Jimmy Carter interview |
| LOLITA | Titular character of a controversial Nabokov novel |
| DAREISAY | Start of a controversial statement, perhaps |
| EUGENIC | "Brussels" officer in charge of a controversial selection procedure (7) |
| PATTON | In which George C. Scott received an Oscar for his portrayal of a controversial general (6) |
| PEASANTSREVOLT | Medieval uprising in England that resulted from the imposition of a controversial poll tax (8,6) |
| STRAW | Like the dogs in the title of a controversial Sam Peckinpah thriller (5) |
| FRANKLIN | Over which river did the High Court in 1983 determine the Australian Government had the constitutional power to stop construction of a controversial dam due to its UNESCO World Heritage status? (8) |
| CRYPTO | A secret member/supporter of a group, party, sect etc; or, a short word for a type of digital currency (6) |
| IDEOLOGUE | A dogmatic or uncompromising supporter of a set of beliefs (9) |
