as in disputed
Related Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of debated
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
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
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
These restrictions were included as lawmakers debated how and where the law could be enforced.
—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
But the bill almost failed to get off the ground, as Republicans debated over provisions limiting institutional investors and the House and Senate haggled over different versions of the proposal.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
Physicists have debated whether this is a fundamental necessity of quantum mechanics or simply a tool for simplifying calculations.
—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
For generations, churches have served not only as houses of worship, but as gathering places where questions of justice, voting rights and public leadership are debated.
—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
On the beach below the mansion, Audrey and John Curtis, a married couple from Connecticut who have been vacationing in Westerly for years, settled into beach chairs and debated the wedding rumors.
—
Leah Willingham,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Fans debated score predictions, discussed players and shared hopes that Algeria could upset the defending world champions.
—
J.m. Banks
june 15,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
The pair debated the pronunciation before.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Adjective
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
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
Verb
By the end of the decade, these issues will be actively and fiercely debated in mainstream society—in the courtroom, on the campaign trail, in the media, around the dinner table.
—
Rob Toews,
Forbes.com,
22 June 2026
These restrictions were included as lawmakers debated how and where the law could be enforced.
—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 June 2026
But the bill almost failed to get off the ground, as Republicans debated over provisions limiting institutional investors and the House and Senate haggled over different versions of the proposal.
—
Justin Papp,
CNBC,
22 June 2026
Physicists have debated whether this is a fundamental necessity of quantum mechanics or simply a tool for simplifying calculations.
—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
22 June 2026
For generations, churches have served not only as houses of worship, but as gathering places where questions of justice, voting rights and public leadership are debated.
—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
21 June 2026
On the beach below the mansion, Audrey and John Curtis, a married couple from Connecticut who have been vacationing in Westerly for years, settled into beach chairs and debated the wedding rumors.
—
Leah Willingham,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
Fans debated score predictions, discussed players and shared hopes that Algeria could upset the defending world champions.
—
J.m. Banks
june 15,
Kansas City Star,
16 June 2026
The pair debated the pronunciation before.
—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
-
Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, companies that furnish information to credit bureaus have a duty to investigate disputed information.
-
Those choices will harden into the standard others copy, the way early card-network rules on chargebacks became the template for disputed payments.
Verb
-
During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bilson and Bethel pondered where their characters’ relationship stands today.
-
Board member Michael Milani pondered failed efforts to attract corporate headquarters and office spaces to the I-80 corridor, saying the village likely needed to establish a new identity for the area amid the post-COVID-19 surge in people working from home.
Verb
-
Violence was also discussed during Tuesday's Stockton City Council meeting as council members considered and approved a new mask ordinance.
-
Speaking last week to IndieWire via Zoom, Schnabel discussed the initial reactions from audiences and critics out of Venice and the subsequent journey to find distribution.
Adjective
-
New signs are emerging that the controversial Alligator Alcatraz detention center in the Florida Everglades may soon shut down, despite conflicting messages from state officials in recent weeks.
-
The trial was one of the most anticipated in recent years due to Pino’s prominence in South Florida and because the investigation was controversial from the start.
Verb
-
Nearly 50 years later, the IRS and courts are still wrestling with how that exception applies to modern entities, including LLCs, LLPs, and foreign partnership-like structures that were not contemplated when the rule was drafted.
-
Cathy, a housewife, had contemplated becoming a teacher, Griffin told me.
Verb
-
Bland was obsessed with religion, but that did not amount to insanity, the prosecutor argued.
-
During the primary the two contenders agreed on most issues, but Valdez argued throughout the campaign that Reynoso wasn't outspoken enough.
Verb
-
With campaigns and outside super PACs flooding the zone with money, television, radio and social media were awash with ads for candidates vying in deep-blue NY-12, NY-10, NY-13 and NY-7, all of which are considered up for grabs to greater or lesser degrees.
-
Forsythia is considered invasive in some parts of the country1 so check your local invasive plant lists before planting.
Verb
-
Scientists who have studied behavior after mass traumas say, disasters can spark an outpouring of kindness and form powerful bonds between strangers.
-
For Sanjay Krishnamurthi, a returning Unicorns player who studied computer science at San Jose State, Ashwin’s signing provides a new level of legitimacy to what Major League Cricket is trying to accomplish in the States.
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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