1
as in pondering
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussing
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
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Recent Examples of debating
Lawyers are increasingly debating the role of outside investment in law firms, alternative business structures, multidisciplinary practices, and the growing influence of technology companies and private capital on the delivery of legal services.
—
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
The other was Michael Longfellow’s sketch about a guy dying at the top of a waterslide and debating whether he should be pushed down the slide or carried down the stairs, which was the only thing Bargatze kept talking about all week.
—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
4 July 2026
Rhode Islanders are debating whether these parties will resume for the holiday this year.
—
Bella Decrescenzo,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
For much of the country, the 250th anniversary of independence on Saturday is a time for celebrating and debating the country’s birth.
—
Hillel Italie,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
His work tells the Revolutionary story through thousands of Americans debating the merits of political change, weighing the risks of armed resistance, and reassuring friends and neighbors that they were engaged in a worthy cause.
—
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
Paine capitalized on the momentum by publishing a dialogue between Montgomery’s ghost and an American in February, debating independence.
—
Sarah M.s. Pearsall,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
That hot summer in Philadelphia, the 56 delegates of the Continental Congress who signed the historic document spent a lot of time in nearby taverns, drinking beer and discussing and debating the merits of trying to become an independent nation.
—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
The company is debating whether to offer access to AI models hosted on its infrastructure or to sell access to raw computing power, according to Bloomberg.
—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Joseph Andrew,
Forbes.com,
4 July 2026
The other was Michael Longfellow’s sketch about a guy dying at the top of a waterslide and debating whether he should be pushed down the slide or carried down the stairs, which was the only thing Bargatze kept talking about all week.
—
Jesse David Fox,
Vulture,
4 July 2026
Rhode Islanders are debating whether these parties will resume for the holiday this year.
—
Bella Decrescenzo,
USA Today,
4 July 2026
For much of the country, the 250th anniversary of independence on Saturday is a time for celebrating and debating the country’s birth.
—
Hillel Italie,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
His work tells the Revolutionary story through thousands of Americans debating the merits of political change, weighing the risks of armed resistance, and reassuring friends and neighbors that they were engaged in a worthy cause.
—
T. H. Breen,
The Atlantic,
3 July 2026
Paine capitalized on the momentum by publishing a dialogue between Montgomery’s ghost and an American in February, debating independence.
—
Sarah M.s. Pearsall,
The Conversation,
2 July 2026
That hot summer in Philadelphia, the 56 delegates of the Continental Congress who signed the historic document spent a lot of time in nearby taverns, drinking beer and discussing and debating the merits of trying to become an independent nation.
—
Jay R. Brooks,
Mercury News,
2 July 2026
The company is debating whether to offer access to AI models hosted on its infrastructure or to sell access to raw computing power, according to Bloomberg.
—
Jonathan Vanian,
CNBC,
2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debating
Verb
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Bravo is sipping its cuppa and pondering what to do about those interesting ladies across the pond.
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Some viewers appear to enjoy seeing the princess in modern settings, pondering over what could have been if her life wasn't cut short.
Verb
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Such methods can be more convenient than consulting websites or discussing such issues with a friend, neighbor or faith leader.
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The dour feeling that this book produces is the exact opposite of the invigorating excitement that Scorsese conveys when discussing movie magic.
Verb
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With a new album out this summer—her first in a decade—Madonna’s reemergence on the pop scene has left many of us contemplating her ultimate place in its firmament.
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The embarrassing episode also amplified questions about whether, in fact, Alito is contemplating retirement, a possibility some court watchers had already been discussing.
Verb
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In 2022, Kroger announced a plan to merge with rival Albertsons, arguing that a larger chain would be better able to compete against rivals.
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The Department of Justice on Thursday declined to turn over additional information from the Epstein files as ordered by a judge, arguing the materials include sensitive victim information or were appropriately redacted as required by law.
Verb
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Why Overreaction Is Dangerous The immune analogy becomes especially useful when considering failure modes.
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The Facebook parent is also considering selling raw computing capacity à la neocloud companies like CoreWeave, according to the report.
Verb
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The program sponsors scholars studying at a wide range of majors and universities throughout the country.
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France, Spain, Denmark, Thailand and South Korea are among others studying or developing similar approaches.
Verb
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The video ends with the woman remaining at the scene until Broward Sheriff's Office deputies arrived and detained her for questioning.
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This can be especially true for LGBTQ+ youth looking for support, teens questioning their identity, or young people whose religious, political or social views differ from those of their parents.
Verb
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However, incorporating the latest luxury pool design trends can take backyard entertaining to another level.
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And frankly, returning viewers as well, since the Enola Holmes films, while entertaining enough, don’t exactly linger in the memory.
Cite this Entry
“Debating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debating. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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