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
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debatable
Yet if Mars’ execution is nearly impossible to criticize, his choices as curator of the evening are more debatable.
—
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Some have pointed to a 1980 precedent holding that the motion to enter executive session for a discharge vote is non-debatable — meaning Thune could get Warsh into the room without a cloture vote.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Though whether this return to Gilead is interesting enough to exist is debatable.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
And that is, to say the least, debatable.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026
Some have pointed to a 1980 precedent holding that the motion to enter executive session for a discharge vote is non-debatable — meaning Thune could get Warsh into the room without a cloture vote.
—Phil Mattingly, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Though whether this return to Gilead is interesting enough to exist is debatable.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2026
And that is, to say the least, debatable.
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 9 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for debatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debatable
Adjective
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While the veracity of those statements is, at best, questionable, the final entry in the saga of games going to space features Microsoft’s AR HoloLens technology.—
William Worrall,
Space.com,
30 May 2026
-
Borg’s aggressive send of Adames was just one of the questionable decisions Borg made in his two months as San Francisco’s third-base coach.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Adjective
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Speech — Intimidation as censorship The First Amendment protects disputable speech, not agreeable.—
Brielle Miller,
Baltimore Sun,
9 Mar. 2026
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That disputable appraisal turned a few heads, and people began peppering the bot for further remarks on Musk’s physical prowess.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
20 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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With the arguable exception of that scrappy first season in Manchester, the last two seasons of City have been Guardiola’s worst.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
22 May 2026
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And while Cathy has always been a famous beauty, Pugh is looking almost unreasonably chic as the arguable tyrant/Satan analog.—
Brittany Allen,
Literary Hub,
14 May 2026
Adjective
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This is also why single-member LLCs are of dubious value for asset protection purposes, unless they are owned by something like a trust that is unlikely to ever have a judgment creditor.—
Jay Adkisson,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
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Homeowners may wonder why another large group — the many city and county residents who love Balboa Park — arguably benefited the most from the leverage Aguirre and Severson had on the city in their lawsuit exposing its shabby and legally dubious trash practices.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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Oil prices have risen, but the market continues to behave as though the disruption will be resolved before inventories become truly problematic.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
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Certain foods, like fruit or milk, that naturally have carbs present are not problematic.—
Jennifer Lefton,
Verywell Health,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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There is some irony in that Donachie also coaches Barcelona’s Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford, for whom a permanent move to the Camp Nou now looks doubtful after his England team-mate’s arrival.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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McClure, of course, would love to see Steyer take the top spot in that easy-win scenario against Hilton, though that seems doubtful.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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Southlake police stopped an in-progress forgery at a bank after staff notified them about suspicious activity, officials said in a Facebook post.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2026
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Create a family script for suspicious calls None of the protections above stops a phone call.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debatable. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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