debated 1 of 2

debated

2 of 2

verb

past tense of debate

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debated
Adjective
In any case, the moment quickly became one of the most debated events in rock history. Kara Rogers Britannica Editors July 16, Encyclopedia Britannica, 16 July 2026 The most debated issue this week is over AI data centers, with every candidate trying to position themselves as the most against them. Jon McGowan, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026 Now this may be my most controversial and debated stance about Pride Nights and the LGBTQ movement. Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026 Ahead of the 2026 Met Gala, here's a look back at the iconic event's most daring — and most debated — style moments. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 2 May 2026 The most controversial and debated article on Mint Press News is about the use of chemical agents in the Syrian civil war. Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 The trade, approved under new team governor Patrick Dumont, has remained one of the most debated moves in recent NBA history, according to sports analysts, with lingering questions about communication within the organization and the long-term direction of the franchise. Sergio Candido, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026 The referendum centers on long debated reforms aimed at reshaping the structure of Italy’s judiciary. ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026 Safety aspects of autonomous vehicles remain debated, but industry groups claim the technology could reduce road fatalities by removing human error from driving. Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
Yet, Stella Lefty’s rise has been hotly debated — conversations about nepotism, originality, and TikTok’s influence on the music industry have taken over. Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 From Engineer To Operator How much FDE an organization needs versus traditional engineering is already being debated. Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Congress has debated but passed no overall AI-regulation legislation. Hadas Gold, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 In their discussions, economists and policymakers debated the regulatory challenges in a world where tokenization is revolutionizing how financial assets are held and transferred. Maria Eloisa Capurro, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 Researchers have debated for years whether these dendrites begin at the electrolyte’s surface or deeper inside the material. Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 Rain recently debated a Republican congressional candidate on Piers Morgan’s talk show; Araujo has become a mainstay on many popular YouTube shows and podcasts. Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 26 Aug. 2026 New restrictions on e-bike use now are being debated by Encinitas city officials following residents’ complaints. Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Aug. 2026 But the legality of their use has been vigorously debated as a possible violation of the laws of war, and they have never been deployed at scale. Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
  • Seven more calls were successfully challenged before the final out, with only two of the eight disputed pitches initially ruled strikes.
    Chantz Martin OutKick, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The enlistment card said Weber was from Alsace-Lorraine, a disputed area between France and Germany, which may explain the two spellings of his surname.
    Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • In a July 2025 text chain, an agent pondered whether facial recognition tools could be used to identify people on TikTok who admitted to being in the country illegally.
    Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
  • In a July interview with Rolling Stone, Foreman pondered why his story went viral.
    Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • Stuttgart’s Bilal El Khannouss, a No 10, was also discussed, but Fernandez-Pardo was Newcastle’s true focus.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Elsewhere, the war in Ukraine was discussed Monday at a summit in Kyrgyzstan involving the leaders of China, Russia and India.
    Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Decades later, buses helped desegregate schools, hauling Black and white children across the country’s racial divide, a controversial practice that has mostly ended.
    Jeff McMurray, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Based on true events, Jacob Tremblay plays the 16-year-old Harvard prodigy who is subjected to controversial psychological experiments by Professor Henry Murray (Russell Crowe) and his eventual transformation into the Unabomber.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Even in the midst of this global struggle, Roosevelt contemplated the future and envisioned the critical role that a new United Nations might play.
    John T. Shaw, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The five trusts also contemplated that two-thirds of the children could vote to terminate a trust.
    Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Group argued construction could be irreversible The National Trust for Historic Preservation, which is challenging the ballroom, had told the justices that the project would likely become irreversible unless it is stopped now.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Palal acknowledged that Davis’ accounts of the killing evolved over the years but argued those differences reflected Davis’ changing motivations and efforts to protect himself.
    Jonathan Landrum Jr, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • At its last meeting, some RBA board members had considered the case for additional tightening, saying that inflation in the country was still too high.
    Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Throughout the summer, several players were considered, to varying degrees of seriousness.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • This is true for ALE too, which academic researchers have studied extensively in an attempt to improve processes or address its low throughput.
    Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have studied 72 young, sun-like stars.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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