Thesaurus results for DEBATER

debater

noun

Definition of debater

as in disputant

a person who takes part in a dispute the debater was unable to come up with a convincing rebuttal for his opponent's argument

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 debater For instance, perhaps a student’s Activities List includes four years as a competitive debater, a part-time job choreographing for a local dance studio, and a long-running hobby restoring vintage radios. — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 25 June 2026 Both were part of Richmond’s circle, and both were ready to debate an idea without deleting the debater. — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 8 June 2026 Not focusing on data can drive a traditional debater crazy. — Lisa Pavia-Higel, The Conversation, 27 May 2026 Porter is a talented debater but seemed overly defensive about her past hot temper. — George Skelton, Mercury News, 14 May 2026 High school debaters are much more polite and reasonable, even compared to presidential candidates, the group’s president, Walt Breitinger, observed. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026 Judging simply by the crowd’s response, the debaters arguing that CSOs remain relevant won handily. — Justin Worland, Time, 20 Feb. 2026 Dylan Black, a SDA freshman who took the pilot course this year, said the class allowed students to learn more about each other and also become better debaters and thinkers. — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026 The fraud debaters offer many preferred litmus tests. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debater

Noun

The Jay Treaty asked the disputants merely to start a process leading to the appointment of arbitrators qualified to decide their disputes fairly and finally.

— Tom Bell, Oc Register, 12 Apr. 2025
The audience and actor are like disputants kept in different rooms, forbidden to see each other fully.

— Jesse Green, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025

Definition of disputant

Noun

Hanaway names the city, City Manager Mario Vasquez and Jaime Guillen, director of the Department of Civil Rights and Equal Opportunity, as defendants in the lawsuit.

— Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026
After both defense and state counsel had agreed this morning that the defendant should be convicted, the jury returned a verdict in less than 10 minutes.

— Cassidy Alexander, AJC.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of defendant

Noun

In an 83-page opinion, Reyes said the plaintiffs were likely to prevail on the merits of the case — contrary to the ultimate ruling by the Supreme Court.

— Jay Weaver July 22, Miami Herald, 22 July 2026
Thousands of ‘failure-to-warn’ lawsuits against Bayer from plaintiffs who claim to have gotten cancer after using Roundup are now expected to be blocked.

— Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026

Definition of plaintiff

Noun

Both fighters are here because someone else already beat them or drew with them, and both need this one to change that.

— Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
China has developed close relations with Pakistan, particularly in the defense sector, and is Pakistan’s largest supplier of military equipment, including fighter jets, missile technology, and naval vessels.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 July 2026

Definition of fighter

Noun

Yet some advocates say better air quality tracking still doesn’t do enough to address the root causes of pollution.

— Finnegan Belleau, Chicago Tribune, 26 July 2026
Residents, tribal leaders and advocates say the shaded, overgrown site is a vital urban refuge and cultural landscape, suing Pasadena over tree removal, excavation and potential harm to ancestral remains.

— Mack Baysinger Follow, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026

Definition of advocate

Noun

Willis is a clear scrapper who can really move.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 25 Apr. 2026
Bastian Schweinsteiger — winger in 2006, classy playmaker in 2010 and midfield scrapper in the final here — returned to full fitness midway through the tournament and also played a key role.

— Michael Cox, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2026

Definition of scrapper

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“Debater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debater. Accessed 30 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of debater

noun

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