Synonyms of debatable

debatable

adjective

di-ˈbā-tə-bəl 

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

• questionable
• disputable
• arguable
• moot
• doubtful
• disputed
• controversial
• negotiable
• debated
• ambiguous
• controvertible
• issuable
• uncertain
• doubtable
• problematic
• speculative
• inconclusive
• hypothetical
• iffy
• refutable
• theoretical
• dubious
• shaky
• contradictable
• indecisive
• academic
• equivocal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indisputable
• sure
• certain
• undeniable
• unquestionable
• positive
• incontestable
• unanswerable
• incontrovertible
• unarguable
• settled
• indubitable
• accomplished
• irrefutable
• unchallengeable
• definite
• undebatable
• irrefragable
• inarguable
• unequivocal
• conclusive
• questionless
• unambiguous
• decisive
• clear
• hands-down
• absolute
• undisputed
• uncontested

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• disputable
• questionable
• dubious
• problematic
• doubtful
• suspect
• suspicious
• ambiguous
• shaky
• unclear
• equivocal
• fishy
• alleged
• queer
• shady
• dubitable
• doubtable
• dodgy
• moot
• unlikely
• uncertain
• weak
• supposed
• undetermined
• improbable
• undecided
• so-called
• flimsy
• far-fetched
• open

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sure
• certain
• indisputable
• undeniable
• unquestionable
• incontestable
• undoubted
• indubitable
• unproblematic
• decisive
• definitive
• obvious
• questionless
• clear
• hands-down
• positive
• open-and-shut

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of debatable

While the advantages of retinoids like retinol—firmer, clearer, and brighter skin—are essentially fact at this point, what constitutes the best retinoid is a bit more debatable. — Deanna Pai, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026

Still admittedly a debatable pick; shaky taking Titans against anybody. — Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

Hynes then made some debatable decisions in the second round, including starting Filip Gustavsson in Game 2. — Michael Russo, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Democracy itself has become debatable, especially among young people. — Joe Daniels, Time, 11 Sep. 2026