Looking for a phrase/expression to describe something which is so popular that it is loved/hated by many people. Examples: Google, the USA, Bill Gates I guess. I am thinking of "monolith?" I want to emphasize the fact that the thing in question continues to exist despite being controversial. Anything come to mind?
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I have no idea what you mean by "continues to exist despite being controversial." Existence has nothing to do with how much something is liked or disliked. Do you perhaps mean influential? (If you're talking about something that only generates extremes ("either you love it or you hate it") then you mean polarizing.– Jason BassfordCommented May 2, 2018 at 3:27
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YES, that's perfect.– RedCommented May 4, 2018 at 7:12
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I'm not sure which one was what you'd been looking for, but I'll turn it into an actual answer. :)– Jason BassfordCommented May 4, 2018 at 13:36
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So Google, the USA, Bill Gates continue to exist despite being controversial??– LambieCommented May 4, 2018 at 13:47
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You want a noun or an adjective, or you don't care? Please give us at least one sample sentence showing how you would use the term. Do you want to emphasize the love-hate relationship we all have with these monoliths, or some other aspect, e.g. the can't-live-without aspect? Or something else? Right now your question isn't clearly enough focused for me to try to help you. But it's an intriguing beginning.– aparente001Commented May 7, 2018 at 19:08
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1 Answer
If you're talking about something that generates an extreme reaction ("either you love it or you hate it"), then a good word is polarizing.
If you're looking for a word that means that something continues to have an affect on people for a long time (for good or ill), then try influential.
answered May 4, 2018 at 13:36
