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
The Canucks have maybe three top-line calibre forwards locked up for next season (Jake DeBrusk, Elias Pettersson and Conor Garland), and even that evaluation is debatable.
—
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 June 2025
While his perspective on European exceptionalism may be debatable, his timing isn't.
—Charles Towers-Clark, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
That bill would aggressively phase out crucial clean energy tax credits and lead to fewer renewable energy additions—though the degree of that drop off is debatable.
—Justin Worland, Time, 13 June 2025
Whether the Padres can keep playing games of this type and win at the necessary pace is debatable.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Thomas Drance, New York Times, 19 June 2025
While his perspective on European exceptionalism may be debatable, his timing isn't.
—Charles Towers-Clark, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
That bill would aggressively phase out crucial clean energy tax credits and lead to fewer renewable energy additions—though the degree of that drop off is debatable.
—Justin Worland, Time, 13 June 2025
Whether the Padres can keep playing games of this type and win at the necessary pace is debatable.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debatable
Adjective
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The hardcore wipe in Escape From Tarkov got off to a rough start, with some questionable decisions or simple oversights that really hampered the player experience.—
Mike Stubbs,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
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With questionable Dolphins secondary, can better pass rush make up for the back end?—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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In his regulation dark navy blazer, Prince George is in command, if slightly dubious about the goings on, at the oak desk of the rail.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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The end result is two teams — the White Sox last year, and the Rockies this year — that face an uncomfortable situation of fighting to avoid these dubious marks.—
Sam Blum,
New York Times,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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Obama has now been succeeded twice by his arguable antithesis, Donald Trump, ...—
Jack Butler,
National Review,
15 June 2025
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But certifying who gets to participate in the lawsuit can take months or years, while a policy and its arguable harms would survive.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
18 May 2025
Adjective
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This is especially problematic because compensation in financial services is reliant on bonuses, commissions and decision-making power and these rewards don’t often trickle down.—
Sughnen Yongo,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
For Gathegi, the shocking moment underscored age-old problematic tropes.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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Moments before the ceremony, her attendance was doubtful.—
Ronda Racha Penrice,
HollywoodReporter,
14 July 2025
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Some experts are keenly doubtful that those efforts will be fully successful.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The suspicious person with a range finder who because the shooter, many times he was spotted by police with suspicion.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 July 2025
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For instance, the Secret Service security room agent, who is responsible for collecting and disseminating information, learned about a suspicious person with a rangefinder from a counterpart in the Pennsylvania State Police roughly 25 minutes before the shooting.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debatable. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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