debate

1 a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream Synonyms account, advisement, consideration, deliberation, reflection, study, thoughtRelated Words cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination; introspection; agonizing, hesitation, indecision; premeditationAntonyms 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 contestation, controversy, disagreement, difference, difficulty, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrenceRelated Words 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 acceptance, compliance; concord, peaceAntonyms 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 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, talkRelated Words 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 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)Related Words 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 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 agitate, argue, bandy, bat (around or back and forth), canvass (also canvas), discuss, dispute, hash (over or out), moot, talk overRelated Words 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