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
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
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
Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Why the Rooney Rule is being debated The Rooney Rule is again under scrutiny after Florida Republican attorney general James Uthmeier sent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a letter earlier this month calling for the policy to be scrapped.
—Mac Engel
march 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Throughout the years, people have debated what constitutes authenticity in metal, raising the question in turn of what the essence of metal should really be.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Storylines are crafted, not debated, and the tone feels unmistakably Augusta.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
But with no end in sight, this will provide funds to the officers as the rest of the funding continues to be debated.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
The discussion mirrors other high-profile cases, including the civil trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, where millions of viewers analyzed their relationship in real time and debated who was the victim.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Connecticut property owners could receive one-time tax rebates of several hundred dollars in the mail under a new plan being debated at the state Capitol.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Though the process of how it is utilized can be debated, having emergency stocks of a vital resource subject to supply crises can hardly be called irrational.
—Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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
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
Verb
Congress anticipated those rising costs and debated extending the enhanced premium tax credits toward the end of last year.
—Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 31 Mar. 2026
Why the Rooney Rule is being debated The Rooney Rule is again under scrutiny after Florida Republican attorney general James Uthmeier sent NFL commissioner Roger Goodell a letter earlier this month calling for the policy to be scrapped.
—Mac Engel
march 30, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Mar. 2026
Throughout the years, people have debated what constitutes authenticity in metal, raising the question in turn of what the essence of metal should really be.
—Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 30 Mar. 2026
Storylines are crafted, not debated, and the tone feels unmistakably Augusta.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
But with no end in sight, this will provide funds to the officers as the rest of the funding continues to be debated.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
The discussion mirrors other high-profile cases, including the civil trial between actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, where millions of viewers analyzed their relationship in real time and debated who was the victim.
—Angela Yang, NBC news, 29 Mar. 2026
Connecticut property owners could receive one-time tax rebates of several hundred dollars in the mail under a new plan being debated at the state Capitol.
—Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
Though the process of how it is utilized can be debated, having emergency stocks of a vital resource subject to supply crises can hardly be called irrational.
—Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
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After Thompson’s testimony, Muscolino called witnesses, which included city workers, who testified against George’s claim to owning the disputed roadway.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Someone who has pondered such niceties is Richard Posner, a former circuit judge and a prolific legal scholar.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Lisa Nelson, executive director of the Hamline-Midway Coalition, said her board members pondered that question at length.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Spies discussed his time in the pods, the toughest moments during filming, his time in Cincinnati, his go‑to Skyline Chili order and more.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Both parties discussed a settlement agreement March 10, according to a status update in the case.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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When not giddily tearing apart the rom-com – a key conversation between Charlie and Emma happens in the trope-iest of cinematic eateries, a diner – Borgli asks really major thematic questions with his controversial subject matter.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Denver City Council members face a vote this week that will determine whether the city keeps dozens of license plate-reading cameras or ends the controversial program — at least, for now.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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By contrast, the SAVE America Act, as contemplated by the president, would ban most forms of mail voting and require photo ID and proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Barry said that the landowners contemplated building a combination gas station/convenience store, but the property wasn’t quite large enough.—
Jim Woods,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And former President John Quincy Adams, who was then serving in the House, argued the Amistad case before the high court in 1841.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
City managers from both cities argued that the regulations were implemented without adequate consideration of the financial consequences for local governments.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While representing the southwest Salt Lake Valley and parts of deep-red Utah County in the former 4th district, he was considered the most conservative House Democrat during his single term by one analysis, before losing reelection to a Republican.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Widely considered one of the best comedy clubs in the country, if not the best.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
To test human reactions to sycophantic AI, researchers studied the reactions of just overn2,400 human participants interacting with AI.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Nagarjuna had studied the story of the saint-composer from school textbooks – the king who imprisoned him, the sealed chamber with an opening only at the top through which he was fed.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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