Thesaurus

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

agonizing, hesitation, indecision

Antonyms of debate

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

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 one's 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

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

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up debate? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

hobbyhorse

a topic to which one constantly reverts