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debate

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of debate

1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something

  • after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream
Synonyms of debate

account, advisement, consideration, deliberation, reflection, study, thought
Words Related to debate

cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination

introspection

agonizing, hesitation, indecision

premeditation
Antonyms of debate

short shrift

2 variance of opinion on a matter

  • there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs
Synonyms of debate

contestation, controversy, difference, difficulty, disagreement, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrence
Words Related to debate

clash, collision, conflict, confliction, disaccord, discord, dissonance

apartness, divarication, division

combat, contention, strife, struggle

altercation, argument, bicker, falling-out, fight, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, set-to
Near Antonyms of debate

acceptance, compliance

concord, peace
Antonyms of debate

accord, agreement, consensus, harmony, unanimity

3 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 of debate

argument, argumentation, argy-bargy [chiefly British], back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), discussion, give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk
Words Related to debate

bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, powwow, roundtable, seminar, skull session (also skull practice), symposium, talkathon

chat, conversation, rap, words

discourse, disquisition

bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler

debate

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of debate

1 to give serious and careful thought to

  • still debating what to do
Synonyms of debate

chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, ponder, pore (over), question, revolve, ruminate, study, think (about or over), turn, weigh, wrestle (with)
Words Related to debate

muse (upon), reflect (on or upon), reminisce

analyze, explore, review

conclude, reason

second-guess, speculate (about)

brood (about or over), dwell (on or upon), fixate (on or upon), fret (about or over), obsess (about or over)

believe, conceive, opine

absorb, assimilate, digest, drink (in)
Phrases Synonymous with debate

beat one's brains out (about), chew on, cudgel oneʼs brains (about), look at
Near Antonyms of debate

disregard, ignore, overlook, slight

dismiss, pooh-pooh (also pooh), reject

2 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 of debate

agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), canvass (also canvas), discuss, dispute, hash (over or out), moot, talk over
Words Related to debate

review, speak (about), talk (about)

broach, introduce, propound, raise, stir up

forge, hammer out, talk out, thrash (out), wrestle (with)

chew over, consider, deliberate, weigh

Synonym Discussion of debate

discuss, argue, debate mean to discourse about in order to reach conclusions or to convince. discuss implies a sifting of possibilities especially by presenting considerations pro and con.
    • discussed the need for a new highway
argue implies the offering of reasons or evidence in support of convictions already held.
    • argued that the project would be too costly
debate suggests formal or public argument between opposing parties
    • debated the merits of the amendment
; it may also apply to deliberation with oneself.
    • I'm debating whether I should go

Learn More about debate

  1. See words that rhyme with debate Dictionary: Definition of debate Spanish Central: Translation of debate Nglish: Translation of debate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of debate for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about debate

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