1
as in consideration
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something
after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in controversy
variance of opinion on a matter
there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in discussion
an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue
there was no debate over the expenditures before the vote
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to ponder
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to discuss
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
we debated the advantages versus the disadvantages of the proposed waterfront development
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of debate
Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In 1960, Congress suspended the equal time rule to allow for coverage of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debates, which were not recognized by the FCC at the time as meeting one of the four exemptions.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
Will Stone, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Avoid debating or justifying your actions repeatedly.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debate
Noun
OpenAI, Anthropic usage data shows economic divide Anthropic and OpenAI this week released some of the most in-depth reports to date on global AI usage, adding fresh data to the worldwide debate over the technology’s economic impact and testing the companies’ own predictions.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 19 Sep. 2025
In 1960, Congress suspended the equal time rule to allow for coverage of the Kennedy-Nixon presidential debates, which were not recognized by the FCC at the time as meeting one of the four exemptions.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, had spent much of Thursday debating the rationale for giving newborns the hepatitis B vaccine at birth — but then the committee pushed off the vote until Friday.
—Will Stone, NPR, 19 Sep. 2025
Avoid debating or justifying your actions repeatedly.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debate
Noun
-
With tuition at some universities now topping $100,000 a year, ROI has become a central consideration, even among high-earning households.—
Liz Doe Stone,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
There are domestic political considerations for Nvidia, too.—
Andrew Cunningham,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Purdy has his share of critics, and such critics may claim that continued fine play from Jones could set up a bit of a quarterback controversy in San Francisco.—
Robert Marvi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Skip to content One summer in Brooklyn, a controversy broke out in my dog-park group chat.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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And a quarterbacks room that has 40-year-old veteran Joe Flacco and rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders is going to keep being talked about in these types of discussions.—
Max Dible,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
-
Refugeoly is a game that enables discussion and debate; the game helps to trigger conversations that are needed more than ever.—
Lisa Deaderick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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As Mary’s family attempts to rally around the Downton heiress, Robert (Hugh Bonneville) and Cora (Elizabeth McGovern) are navigating their way through more financial strife, with those downstairs also left to ponder what the future holds for aristocratic homes like theirs.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Sep. 2025
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Brendan McDermid | Reuters After Swedish payments group Klarna’s $17 billion initial public offering, investors are pondering which big fintech name will be the next to go public.—
Ryan Browne,
CNBC,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
For instance, Charles Kuck, an adjunct professor of law at Emory and immigration law firm partner, appeared on CGTN earlier this month to discuss the effect of deportations on the job market.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
-
China’s top leaders are scheduled to meet in October to discuss development goals for 2026 to 2030.—
Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Planning or deliberation can undercut both prongs, and Utah decisions emphasize that receiving an EED instruction is easier than winning on the ultimate question.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Sep. 2025
-
In retrospect, that jury seemed more sympathetic to the defense’s case than the one that ultimately found Wenger guilty after less than a full day of deliberation.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Both sides dramatically hiked tariffs against each other during a months-long dispute earlier this year, disrupting global supply chains.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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Tung Tung’s creator, Noxa, is currently involved in a copyright dispute with Steal A Brainrot, which resulted in the character disappearing from the game.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Or patients might need a prescription or consultation with a doctor or other medical provider.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
-
Then, too, Warsaw invoked Article 4, which calls for emergency consultations among member states.—
Tom O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debate. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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