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, thoughtWords Related to debate cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination; introspection; agonizing, hesitation, indecision; premeditationAntonyms 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, disagreement, difference, difficulty, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrenceWords 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-toNear Antonyms of debate acceptance, compliance; concord, peaceAntonyms 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, discussion, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), give-and-take, palaver, parley, talkWords 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

1 to give serious and careful thought to still debating what to do Synonyms of debate chew over, cogitate, consider, contemplate, ponder, deliberate, entertain, eye, kick around, meditate, mull (over), perpend, 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)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 overWords 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