debatable
adjective
de·bat·able
di-ˈbā-tə-bəl 
dē-
1
: claimed by more than one country
debatable border territory
2
a
: open to dispute : questionable
the debatable wisdom of his advice
b
: open to debate
3
: capable of being debated
Synonyms
Examples of debatable in a Sentence
it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system
the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet
Recent Examples on the Web
Think carefully before agreeing to something debatable.
—
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
The truth behind Kitty’s ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
Whether those tugs could have averted the disaster with the Dali already out of control is debatable.
—Joshua Goodman and Richard Lardner, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Whether that was true is debatable, since Valaze, the product Rubinstein launched in 1902 while living in Australia, was based on an ingredient that was particularly plentiful in that sheep-farming hub—lanolin.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Whether the cancellation of the April 20 event will dampen 420 — a day that is observed by cannabis enthusiasts far and wide — is debatable, Bay Area weed advocates say.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Whether the new mixture of talent and tone provides enough rationale for Netflix to invest its relatively new money is debatable for a show whose appeal, beyond the general atmosphere, mostly boils down to smoke and mirrors.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
Gascón’s overall effect on misdemeanor crime in the county is debatable.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024
Whether or not social media has destroyed the ability to concentrate is still debatable, but as Teesa’s saga proves, nothing holds our attention quite like a good bit of gossip.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Apr. 2024
The truth behind Kitty’s ascent to stardom from her beginnings in the segregated South threatens to expose a web of unexpected family ties, debts owed, and debatable crimes that could, with one pull, unravel the all-American fabric of the St. John sisters and those closest to them.
—Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024
Whether those tugs could have averted the disaster with the Dali already out of control is debatable.
—Joshua Goodman and Richard Lardner, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Whether that was true is debatable, since Valaze, the product Rubinstein launched in 1902 while living in Australia, was based on an ingredient that was particularly plentiful in that sheep-farming hub—lanolin.
—The Editors, Robb Report, 28 Mar. 2024
Whether the cancellation of the April 20 event will dampen 420 — a day that is observed by cannabis enthusiasts far and wide — is debatable, Bay Area weed advocates say.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2024
Whether the new mixture of talent and tone provides enough rationale for Netflix to invest its relatively new money is debatable for a show whose appeal, beyond the general atmosphere, mostly boils down to smoke and mirrors.
—Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024
Gascón’s overall effect on misdemeanor crime in the county is debatable.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024
Whether or not social media has destroyed the ability to concentrate is still debatable, but as Teesa’s saga proves, nothing holds our attention quite like a good bit of gossip.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'debatable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debatable. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
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