1
as in deliberations
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 controversies
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 discussions
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 studies
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
we debated the advantages versus the disadvantages of the proposed waterfront development
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debates
Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Giant has provoked so many think-pieces and conversations and debates, which have caused people to flock to the show — you guys made your money back in 10 weeks, which just doesn’t happen.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
There were so many would-be Presidents that debates had to be staged over three consecutive nights.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
In the governor's race, as many as nine candidates polled well enough to qualify for major debates, creating a tough choice for many voters.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 June 2026
And candidates have to show up for the voters — Doshi said Griswold has missed a number of recent debates.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Both matters have been a source of simmering tensions and debates for weeks in Haiti, where political parties have been accusing Fils-Aimé of overreach and a lack of transparency.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Nowak's death has triggered debates about policing and knife crime and has spurred claims by far-right activists and politicians that there is bias against white people in the justice system.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Finally, leaders should pay attention to who speaks less when one person debates more.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
When Nature Doesn’t Wait While the museum world debates loans and returns, a more immediate threat is accelerating.
—Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
Data center debates takeover small town Texas Many state and local officials welcome the blossoming industry as an economic opportunity in small communities where revenue can be hard to come by.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Lesch plays the savior’s anguished betrayer not as an intellectual equal who fiercely debates him and loses all patience with the movement.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
The Senate typically debates and passes its budget in the week before Memorial Day.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Early voting in the midterm primaries starts Monday in Georgia, and voters were given a chance to see all the Republican hopefuls on one stage at the Atlanta Press Club debates Sunday.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee will quiz McSweeney on Tuesday morning, before the whole house debates a demand by the opposition Conservative Party for Parliament’s Privileges Committee to investigate Starmer’s explanations of how Mandelson came to be appointed.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Noun
The jury, under the excellent presidency of Park Chan-wook, who was both generous and confident, had extremely varied and highly democratic debates.
—Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 4 June 2026
Giant has provoked so many think-pieces and conversations and debates, which have caused people to flock to the show — you guys made your money back in 10 weeks, which just doesn’t happen.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
There were so many would-be Presidents that debates had to be staged over three consecutive nights.
—Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026
In the governor's race, as many as nine candidates polled well enough to qualify for major debates, creating a tough choice for many voters.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 June 2026
And candidates have to show up for the voters — Doshi said Griswold has missed a number of recent debates.
—John Aguilar, Denver Post, 4 June 2026
Both matters have been a source of simmering tensions and debates for weeks in Haiti, where political parties have been accusing Fils-Aimé of overreach and a lack of transparency.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Nowak's death has triggered debates about policing and knife crime and has spurred claims by far-right activists and politicians that there is bias against white people in the justice system.
—ABC News, 3 June 2026
Verb
As the podcast industry debates the definition of a podcast and wades through unclear ad measurement tools, a secret industrywide taskforce has been meeting to combat the problem.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Finally, leaders should pay attention to who speaks less when one person debates more.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
When Nature Doesn’t Wait While the museum world debates loans and returns, a more immediate threat is accelerating.
—Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
Data center debates takeover small town Texas Many state and local officials welcome the blossoming industry as an economic opportunity in small communities where revenue can be hard to come by.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
Lesch plays the savior’s anguished betrayer not as an intellectual equal who fiercely debates him and loses all patience with the movement.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
The Senate typically debates and passes its budget in the week before Memorial Day.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Early voting in the midterm primaries starts Monday in Georgia, and voters were given a chance to see all the Republican hopefuls on one stage at the Atlanta Press Club debates Sunday.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2026
The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee will quiz McSweeney on Tuesday morning, before the whole house debates a demand by the opposition Conservative Party for Parliament’s Privileges Committee to investigate Starmer’s explanations of how Mandelson came to be appointed.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debates
Noun
-
Attorneys will finalize jury instructions before deliberations begin following the closing arguments on Tuesday.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
-
Closing arguments in the case are slated for Tuesday morning, after which the jury will start deliberations.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
The pair traveled to Yellow Springs, Ohio, for the wide-ranging chat, which included candid discussions of Chappelle's early life, comedy career and his controversies with the LGBTQ community.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
-
The circumstances surrounding the exits vary, ranging from routine retirements, campus controversies, personal peccadillos, serious health issues, fractious relationships between campus leaders and governing boards, and visions of greener pastures.—
Michael T. Nietzel,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The Kim-Xi meeting could include discussions on resuming Chinese tourism to North Korea and opening a bridge over the Yalu River that has remained unused years after its completion, Koh said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
Simard’s discussions with First Native people led her to include centuries-old Indigenous, natural-world wisdom into her studies and conclusions.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Governor Mike DeWine ordered a halt to a program offering tax breaks while a committee studies the economic impact of the projects.—
Yash Roy,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
During a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority meeting in March, that officer, Eric Osnes, said his team now studies footage of assaults on drivers to learn lessons that may mitigate future conflicts.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Mike Tirico, Jamal Crawford, and Reggie Miller discusses why San Antonio could be a contender for years to come, highlighting Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs' chemistry and its long-term outlook.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
Below, during a conversation with THR, Gallner also discusses the code of his con man character in Caroline.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Outside of income, there are additional demographic considerations driving these trends within the segment of single female homeowners.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
In 2025, the office was hoping to tackle neuroethics — questions of sentience in brain organoids and considerations for recipients of brain-computer interfaces.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The target is settling lower after consultations with advisers and investors, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Kansas City’s plan was the product of three years of preparations, research and consultations from 118 residents and human rights organizations and business support professionals, according to KC2026.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debates. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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