as in disputed
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1
as in pondered
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
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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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Recent Examples of debated
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
That balance of a decades-old history and a new brand’s need to establish itself in its own right shapes the leadership challenge facing Strazik, who joined GE in 2000 when it was still led by Jack Welch, one of the defining — and most debated — business leaders of the 20th century.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As one of Cohen's most frequent guests on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, Rapaport has generated some of its most viral and debated moments, like a fiery 2018 spat between the actor and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Perhaps the most debated entry in Clooney’s filmography, this adaptation of the Stanisław Lem sci-fi novel — which had previously been turned into a meditative 1972 Andrei Tarkovsky drama — has its champions and its passionate haters.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
His statement was debated on the airwaves and online, and covered in outlets ranging from TMZ to The Hill, a website ostensibly devoted to Beltway politics.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the Legislature has moved slowly on many bills, with some debated at length and progressing through one chamber only to be stalled in the other.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The movie stars participated in a Variety & CNN town hall last week in which the pair debated how the pacing of movies and streaming series appeals to different generations who consume media on a wide range of mediums.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At least six American service members are dead and others wounded in a conflict that Americans never debated.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The Sunshine Protection Act was debated in Congress again in 2025 and once again stalled in the House.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Van Hollen's plan would not raise as much as Sanders', but Van Hollen's is less likely to face constitutional challenges, as experts have long debated the legality of a national wealth tax.
—Jeff Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
One group had candidates speak in batches, with one cohort waiting in a separate room while others debated.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Actor Jeff Daniels ran out of jelly one day, reached for barbecue sauce instead, and accidentally created one of the most debated sandwiches on the internet.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
That balance of a decades-old history and a new brand’s need to establish itself in its own right shapes the leadership challenge facing Strazik, who joined GE in 2000 when it was still led by Jack Welch, one of the defining — and most debated — business leaders of the 20th century.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As one of Cohen's most frequent guests on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, Rapaport has generated some of its most viral and debated moments, like a fiery 2018 spat between the actor and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
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
Perhaps the most debated entry in Clooney’s filmography, this adaptation of the Stanisław Lem sci-fi novel — which had previously been turned into a meditative 1972 Andrei Tarkovsky drama — has its champions and its passionate haters.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
Verb
It can be debated whether Brian Flores ever liked, or wanted Tagovailoa.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 9 Mar. 2026
His statement was debated on the airwaves and online, and covered in outlets ranging from TMZ to The Hill, a website ostensibly devoted to Beltway politics.
—Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2026
Meanwhile, the Legislature has moved slowly on many bills, with some debated at length and progressing through one chamber only to be stalled in the other.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2026
The movie stars participated in a Variety & CNN town hall last week in which the pair debated how the pacing of movies and streaming series appeals to different generations who consume media on a wide range of mediums.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 7 Mar. 2026
At least six American service members are dead and others wounded in a conflict that Americans never debated.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2026
The Sunshine Protection Act was debated in Congress again in 2025 and once again stalled in the House.
—Alexis Simmerman, Austin American Statesman, 7 Mar. 2026
Van Hollen's plan would not raise as much as Sanders', but Van Hollen's is less likely to face constitutional challenges, as experts have long debated the legality of a national wealth tax.
—Jeff Stein The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
One group had candidates speak in batches, with one cohort waiting in a separate room while others debated.
—ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
-
After the disputed 2009 presidential election, in which an apparent reformist victory was thwarted, the streets became the only outlet for dissent.—
Karl Vick,
Time,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Late Thursday night the Taliban’s military launched attacks on Pakistani positions along some sections of their porous and disputed border that wends 1,600 miles through rugged mountains and desert.—
Sophia Saifi,
CNN Money,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Steve Kerr pondered a question from a local Salt Lake City reporter before the Warriors’ game Monday in Utah.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Given Erika's family hails from the capital city of Manila, the couple pondered celebrating around the beachy hubs of Boracay or Cebu before settling on the latter, which is the nation’s second-largest city.—
Kaitlin Menza,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Emails reviewed by The Dallas Morning News show that city staff and consultants discussed how to arrange tours of prospective sites as part of an evaluation of whether Dallas should invest in significant repairs of City Hall or move and redevelop its prime location.—
Nick Wooten,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Mar. 2026
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Zabel alleges the two discussed the idea of creating a children’s book together after Sánchez told her a story about a helicopter trip where a fly was stuck to the windshield the entire time.—
StyleCaster Editors,
StyleCaster,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Front and rear wings are simplified, and the sport’s controversial Drag Reduction System (DRS)—long considered to create artificial overtaking—has been abolished.—
Brad Spurgeon,
Robb Report,
9 Mar. 2026
-
When asked about Trump’s immigration policies — which have been controversial and are viewed by some Venezuelan residents as harmful to their community — Rodriguez first expressed support.—
Verónica Egui Brito,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The other professional path that Godoy contemplated would’ve still brought him back to acting.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Kelce, 36, had contemplated retirement, but he is set to return for a 14th NFL season, all with Kansas City.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And the prosecutors argued that Lauer’s decision to wait eight years after the initial FBI raid to enter a guilty plea should result in a longer sentence.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The district argued there was another year left before there were five failed ratings in a row, but the judge panel struck down this argument, among others.—
Lina Ruiz,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Widely considered the best run-blocking tight end available ahead of free agency, Kolar should help an uneven Chargers running attack that forced coach Jim Harbaugh to often rely too much on quarterback Justin Herbert — even when his running backs were healthy.—
Senior Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
On the American right, voices once considered allies traffic in antisemitic conspiracies.—
Calev Myers,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Smith had studied the architects while a student at Hampton University, and has documented on his Instagram their various stylings, which range from restrained to whimsical to ornate.—
Todd Martens,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Many recipients are part of the low-wage labor market, where job security is often unpredictable and turnover tends to be high, according to Lauren Bauer, a researcher at the Brookings Institution who has studied SNAP extensively.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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