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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debatable
Both obviously deserve the opportunity to fix this (that isn’t even debatable with Spoelstra).
—
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
While the fact sheet has been rescinded, the underlying substantive question of Title IX’s potential application to the settlement remains a debatable topic.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 19 Mar. 2025
While the fact sheet has been rescinded, the underlying substantive question of Title IX’s potential application to the settlement remains a debatable topic.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 12 Feb. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debatable
Adjective
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Gordon will officially be listed as questionable for Sunday afternoon’s contest at Paycom Center, team sources told The Athletic.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
17 May 2025
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The Trump Administration has unleashed a torrent of unconstitutional executive orders and other questionable legal actions; with many of them, its goal seems less to win in the end than to inflict as much damage as possible along the way.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
17 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 is potentially problematic to some U.S. analysts, given Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s close ties with China.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
14 May 2025
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The president’s high-profile and problematic approach to deportation, while politically popular with his constituency, costs a lot of money.—
Veronique de Rugy,
Twin Cities,
13 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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Aurora police received reports at about 3 p.m. Monday of a suspicious person trespassing at The Parking Spot in the 19900 block of East 56th Avenue, trying to break into vehicles and refusing to leave, according to a news release from the police department.—
Katie Langford,
Denver Post,
13 May 2025
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While trying to solve the mystery of the stalker, Reese becomes suspicious of Eros' friend and roommate, Peyton (Mirela Balić).—
Christopher Rudolph,
People.com,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debatable. Accessed 20 May. 2025.
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