as in discusses
to talk about (an issue) usually from various points of view and for the purpose of arriving at a decision or opinion
the issue's been batted around, but nothing's ever been done
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bats (around or back and forth)
Verb
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Beyond her physical transformation, Sarah also discusses her strategy for red carpet dressing, telling the story behind her Chanel feather dress and pants at the show’s premiere.—
Chelsea Daniel,
Vogue,
20 Feb. 2026 -
This story discusses events that might be disturbing to some readers.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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While social media debates whether their name is pronounced bet-tuh or bay-tuh, veterinarians tend to be more concerned with how they’re cared for than how they’re named.—
Sierra Leone Starks,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
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The chef debates whether to serve the cabins or the saloon first.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Still, some major employers either believe AI tools will make junior staff more productive, as is the case with IBM, or that challenging early-career workers was necessary to maintain a talent pipeline, as PwC argues.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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The complaint argues that Harvard’s failure to provide records violates a material term of its federal financial assistance and hampers the government’s ability to complete its review.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Bats (around or back and forth).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bats%20%28around%20or%20back%20and%20forth%29. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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