as in disputed
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in pondered
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of debated
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Williams, an undersized combo forward who carves out space at will and debated turning pro after a first-team All-Big-12 campaign last year, will be the fulcrum of everything after transferring from Texas Tech.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
For decades, arachnologists debated the actual purpose of stabilimenta, a special thread spiders weave into their webs.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Others debated an attempt, but nobody would brave a taste.
—Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Others debated whether the ban should extend to pastors who molested 16- and 17-year-olds without having intercourse.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
This will likely be debated for investors.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
While the tech world debated whether agentic AI was hype, Benioff was already building it, deploying it, proving it, and restructuring his entire $40 billion company around it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Republicans have argued that heath care can be debated after the shutdown is over.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Dogs are believed to descend from ancient gray wolves, though the exact wolf populations that gave rise to them remain debated.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Though the Maldives is the first country to enact such a ban, similar proposals have been debated – and nearly imposed – in other parts of the world.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 3 Nov. 2025
Williams, an undersized combo forward who carves out space at will and debated turning pro after a first-team All-Big-12 campaign last year, will be the fulcrum of everything after transferring from Texas Tech.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2025
For decades, arachnologists debated the actual purpose of stabilimenta, a special thread spiders weave into their webs.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 2 Nov. 2025
Others debated an attempt, but nobody would brave a taste.
—Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025
Others debated whether the ban should extend to pastors who molested 16- and 17-year-olds without having intercourse.
—Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025
This will likely be debated for investors.
—Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2025
While the tech world debated whether agentic AI was hype, Benioff was already building it, deploying it, proving it, and restructuring his entire $40 billion company around it.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2025
Republicans have argued that heath care can be debated after the shutdown is over.
—Melina Khan, USA Today, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
-
In disputed territories, the drone’s ability to deliver real-time monitoring and rapid response capabilities could give operators a significant tactical advantage, reinforcing control over contested zones, the South China Morning Post writes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Palace’s first goal came from a corner — albeit a disputed one, given the final touch seemed to come off Tyrick Mitchell — as a back-post ball towards Marc Guehi forced a mistake from Ryan Gravenberch, whose misplaced header fell perfectly for Ismaila Sarr to score.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Researchers pondered what the gargantuan black hole consumed to release such a powerful flare.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Athletic’s Mike Jones recently wondered if Miami had to go on a postseason run to save McDaniel’s job, and CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz pondered during the Chiefs-Raiders game whether there would soon be news out of Miami.—
Zac Jackson,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For example, as part of its agreement with OpenAI, Nvidia has reportedly discussed guaranteeing loans the startup would use to build its own data centers—a move that could leave the chipmaker on the hook for billions in debt if OpenAI can’t repay.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 2025
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Beyond Tuesday’s news, here’s a look at what else happened recently that has already given the trial shape — from who will be called to the witness stand, to which financial disclosures will be discussed, to the likelihood of a settlement.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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As my colleague Sam McDowell noted last month, the Chiefs’ have a short-yardage play that’s more effective than the Eagles’ controversial Tush Push.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Mamdani initially tried to stay on-message, offering a quick disavowal of an unsavory association or controversial past statement and pivoting back his agenda.—
Ben Adler,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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To that point, the settlement attempts to correct an economic harm and cannot address possible harms that are contemplated by other areas of law.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The idea of even having to make a decision like the one being contemplated in Dynamite is so difficult that most presidents would prefer not think about it until absolutely necessary.—
Jake Kring-Schreifels,
Time,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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When its army entered Gaza in late 1956, the Israeli government argued that national security interests required it to control the Strip.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The issue of filing deadlines wasn't argued before the Supreme Court, nor the circuit court, Wood said.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Moore said that while any and all legal options will be considered, the group's main focus will be on advocacy for pretrial services and other programming that can keep people out of jail.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Those employees are considered essential and have continued working without pay.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The science specialist university, together with Jabra, studied how voice technology will impact the future of work, and the scientists predicted that by 2028, voice AI will become the default way of working.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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Sold to Menemsha, studied in its craft, genuinely tense and gorgeously shot, highlighting the heavenly mountains and a historical hell.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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