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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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
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
Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Regardless of political party or ideology, Americans have the right to witness important issues like crime and drugs debated in an open and fair forum.
—Richard Cherwitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Separating the art from the artist can be easier debated than done.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Other states have debated the constitutionality of these restrictions, Bohacek said, but those issues have been resolved.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
That deal was evidently set aside as various members of the Administration debated how to proceed.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
In their classic, hilarious back-and-forth on the annual NYE special, Cohen and Cooper debated who would play Ilya and who would play Shane on the LGBTQ+ sports romance series.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Though many have debated the impending burst of the influencer bubble, experts say that celebrities and public figures still have influence in consumer decisions.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
The quarterback question will be one heavily debated in Miami Dolphins circles for the entire offseason.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 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
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
The airstrikes were not authorized by Congress, and their legality has been debated.
—Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Regardless of political party or ideology, Americans have the right to witness important issues like crime and drugs debated in an open and fair forum.
—Richard Cherwitz, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
Separating the art from the artist can be easier debated than done.
—Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 5 Jan. 2026
Other states have debated the constitutionality of these restrictions, Bohacek said, but those issues have been resolved.
—Alexandra Kukulka, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2026
That deal was evidently set aside as various members of the Administration debated how to proceed.
—Jon Lee Anderson, New Yorker, 3 Jan. 2026
In their classic, hilarious back-and-forth on the annual NYE special, Cohen and Cooper debated who would play Ilya and who would play Shane on the LGBTQ+ sports romance series.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026
Though many have debated the impending burst of the influencer bubble, experts say that celebrities and public figures still have influence in consumer decisions.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
The quarterback question will be one heavily debated in Miami Dolphins circles for the entire offseason.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
-
Cambodia was awarded sovereignty over the disputed area, including the 1,000-year-old Preah Vihear temple, in 1962 by the International Court of Justice.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The disputed 2024 presidential election ignited nationwide protests and a sweeping government crackdown.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement China has long pondered surgical strikes against Taiwan’s leadership, though any such move is likely to be self-defeating, given the island is a sustained democracy.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Early in their planning for the trip to Alaska, the couple pondered taking a cruise.—
Madison Beveridge,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Thursday’s report is not the first time the possibility of Trump pardoning Combs has been publicly discussed.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
This tension was on display in Paris this week, when representatives from 35 countries, including the US, discussed how to guarantee Ukraine’s post-war security in the event of a peace deal with Russia.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Golden Globes' new category drew backlash after controversial stars Joe Rogan, Candace Owens, Megyn Kelly, and more made the eligibility shortlist.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
12 Jan. 2026
-
These ingredients appear on the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’ list of pregnancy-safe options but are slightly more controversial, so check with your ob-gyn first.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the governor’s office, the original design of the project contemplated the demolition of the synagogue on the One Brooklyn Health System campus, but following intervention from Hochul, the synagogue’s demolition has been removed from the plans for affordable housing.—
Jackie Hajdenberg,
Sun Sentinel,
5 Jan. 2026
-
One of the scenarios being contemplated is that only two-thirds or a majority of that number would need to turn out.—
Guillermo Rai,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the department has argued the sheer volume of documents that need to be found, uploaded, reviewed, redacted and published has forced it to instead release the files online on a rolling basis, with a series of enormous document dumps over the course of several days in mid-December.—
Joe Walsh,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Skelton argued that the city’s code lays out a specific process for declaring an animal as dangerous, which often entails a day in municipal court.—
Taylor O'Connor,
Kansas City Star,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Before the Refugio oil spill, the pipelines under All Plains were considered intrastate because the previous owner filed tariffs with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.—
Molly McCrea,
CBS News,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Harbaugh is considered by many to be the top candidate for multiple teams following his 18-year tenure leading the Ravens.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Having designed dozens of homes and studied many more, interior designers become accustomed to spotting some of the same home accessories over and over again.—
Sarah Lyon,
The Spruce,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Medieval Europeans moved to England consistently A press release by the University of Cambridge continued that researchers studied more than 700 chemical signatures from the teeth of people buried in England between AD 400 and 1100.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 14 Jan. 2026.
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