1
as in pondered
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussed
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 & Similar Words
as in disputed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of debated
IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
This secular trend is welcome, but its causes remain debated.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Ohio lawmakers have debated how to address higher property taxes since home values skyrocketed in recent years.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
The effectiveness of redshirting is still debated among education experts.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Whether this apparent reduction in human population size resulted from the Toba supereruption or some other factor is heavily debated.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025
The committee debated whether doctors should wait a month before giving a dose—even though some women aren’t screened for the virus during pregnancy and the virus can be transmitted by other caregivers—but ultimately decided to table the issue.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Republicans say that other policy priorities should be debated as part of the annual appropriations process, not as part of a short-term funding solution.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
The drug is typically prescribed to counteract the toxic effects of chemotherapy medications such as methotrexate and to treat anemia, and its effect on autism is still being debated.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Earlier in the week, members of Parliament gathered to discuss whether London Fashion Week was in the national interest — marking the first time the event had been debated at government level.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
Seclusion and restraint The use of restraint and seclusion practices to address disabled students’ behavioral issues has increasingly become a debated issue among education specialists.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
This secular trend is welcome, but its causes remain debated.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Even if a dissenting perspective isn’t correct or better, dissent brings different views to the fore so that they can be debated, and that improves and sharpens arguments, options and outcomes.
—Elizabeth Shackelford, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
Ohio lawmakers have debated how to address higher property taxes since home values skyrocketed in recent years.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 26 Sep. 2025
The effectiveness of redshirting is still debated among education experts.
—Erick Trevino, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Whether this apparent reduction in human population size resulted from the Toba supereruption or some other factor is heavily debated.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 25 Sep. 2025
The committee debated whether doctors should wait a month before giving a dose—even though some women aren’t screened for the virus during pregnancy and the virus can be transmitted by other caregivers—but ultimately decided to table the issue.
—Dhruv Khullar, New Yorker, 24 Sep. 2025
Republicans say that other policy priorities should be debated as part of the annual appropriations process, not as part of a short-term funding solution.
—Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
The drug is typically prescribed to counteract the toxic effects of chemotherapy medications such as methotrexate and to treat anemia, and its effect on autism is still being debated.
—Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
Earlier in the week, members of Parliament gathered to discuss whether London Fashion Week was in the national interest — marking the first time the event had been debated at government level.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Verb
-
Jason briefly pondered Travis’ stats for games during his birthday week, but his younger brother wasn’t having it.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Four Ball State players pondered it prior to the 2022 season.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Those were all topics discussed at a forum for Republican candidates running to represent Kentucky's 6th Congressional District.—
Hannah Pinski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In her record-breaking guest spot on New Heights that same month, the superstar and her future brother-in-law discussed one of her special interests, numerology — which seems to have made an impact on Jason, who contemplated Travis’ new age on their show Wednesday.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Arunachal Pradesh is a disputed region in the Himalayan mountains along the India-China border.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Caproni has written several times, Flores signed a contract with the Dolphins that contemplated league arbitration.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Duncan even contemplated mounting a third-party challenge to Trump as a No Labels candidate last year before withdrawing his name from consideration.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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City officials argued that yoga — even when taught for free or by donation — is a commercial activity and not protected by the First Amendment.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Residents acknowledged there’s always going to be some noise in a dense urban area like downtown, but argued the noise from cars and motorcycles is above the normal din.—
Harrison Mantas,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Jimmy Kimmel’s controversial remarks about Kirk’s killing prompted ABC to temporarily suspend his late-night TV show, which has prompted widespread concerns around free speech.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
On Friday, the controversial author responded to a clip of comedian Intel Lady spoofing Watson’s recent conversation on the On Purpose With Jay Shetty podcast.—
Carly Thomas,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The city has also considered a three-year contract with GEST Golf Carts to shuttle people from further away parking lots.—
Victoria Moorwood,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Hurricanes Gabrielle and Humberto have formed over the ocean but are not considered threats to the United States.—
Alana Wise,
NPR,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Black nuclear families, like the one Cardi B (who is Afro-Latina) was part of for the past seven years, are actually on the rise, according to Christina Cross, a professor, researcher, and sociologist at Harvard University who has studied this subject extensively.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
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These strategies – called selection sort and shaker sort – are typically studied in computer science.—
Celeste Kidd,
The Conversation,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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