1
as in questionable
open to question or dispute
it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disputable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debatable
Join 120 others in the comments View Comments The material supplied by CBS showed debatable but normal editing practices, not deliberate distortion.
—
Brian Stelter, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
What’s less debatable is that CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan believed that Lorenz provided valuable perspective.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
What’s not debatable is that the workload used to be far higher.
—Bruce Schoenfeld Robert Fass Tanya Pérez Brian St. Pierre, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Even his kill count remains debatable.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Brian Stelter, CNN, 5 Feb. 2025
What’s less debatable is that CNN reporter Donie O’Sullivan believed that Lorenz provided valuable perspective.
—Noah Rothman, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
What’s not debatable is that the workload used to be far higher.
—Bruce Schoenfeld Robert Fass Tanya Pérez Brian St. Pierre, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Even his kill count remains debatable.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debatable
Adjective
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The deportation of Venezuelan men to a hellish mega-prison in El Salvador, on the questionable suspicion of gang affiliations, based on the presence of tattoos: flowers, a soccer logo, an autism-awareness ribbon.—
Jia Tolentino,
New Yorker,
3 May 2025
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Or couldn’t, thanks in part to questionable player usage by coach Jim Hiller.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
3 May 2025
Adjective
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Mary’s fixation on commemorating James’ dubious talents.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
2 May 2025
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Together, these studies indicate that boys may be especially sensitive to the quality of early caregiving—an argument to both increase social support for families and resist dubious assumptions that boys do not require substantial affectionate nurturing.—
Joshua Coleman,
The Atlantic,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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On the flip side, the Rams giving up Stafford and replacing him with an older and arguable lesser option with Rodgers would put Los Angeles in a bit of a bind in terms of their attempts to return to the deeper postseason position in 2025.—
Mark Joseph,
Newsweek,
22 Feb. 2025
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Of course, the biggest need on that list is an arguable one.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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This dynamic was itself problematic but was compounded when the 1997 Asian financial crisis led to a string of Malaysia’s biggest companies being bailed out by the state, creating conditions ripe for rent-seeking behavior.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
2 May 2025
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Some of his primary opponents have argued his reliance on billionaire donors is problematic.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Adjective
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The Celtics ruled the 34-year-old out the day before each of their last two games rather than listing him as questionable or doubtful.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
28 Apr. 2025
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As for Tatum, he is listed as doubtful ahead of Game 3.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The individual was identified as Samuel Stovall, 51, and authorities said his death hasn't been deemed suspicious.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
2 May 2025
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Police were called to a section of Third Street for a report of a suspicious car, and ended up finding the man’s body inside, authorities said.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
1 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debatable. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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