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
Relevance
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
The fraud debaters offer many preferred litmus tests.
—
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
The college boys would gather around a charpoy set in front of the food stall, playing for cups of tea or plates of biscuits, contemplating the next move with the seriousness of parliamentary debaters, discussing strategy.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Curtis and Kirk were indeed to be found on opposite ends of virtually every hot-button cultural issue on which the latter made his name as a debater and provocateur.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Kirk became known as a fierce ― and controversial ― debater.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Rutledge referred to Kirk's reputation as an enthusiastic debater and turning those debates into viral social media content.
—Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2025
David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
The college boys would gather around a charpoy set in front of the food stall, playing for cups of tea or plates of biscuits, contemplating the next move with the seriousness of parliamentary debaters, discussing strategy.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Curtis and Kirk were indeed to be found on opposite ends of virtually every hot-button cultural issue on which the latter made his name as a debater and provocateur.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Oct. 2025
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Kirk became known as a fierce ― and controversial ― debater.
—Natalie Eilbert, jsonline.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Rutledge referred to Kirk's reputation as an enthusiastic debater and turning those debates into viral social media content.
—Ella McCarthy, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 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
Noun
-
One of Wagner’s co-defendants was also sentenced Wednesday for his guilty plea to assault, which was downgraded to a misdemeanor charge.—
Teri Figueroa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The defendant and his mother frequently argued in the weeks between Wei Hou’s release from prison and the victim’s murder, with Zhu Hou believing her son was stealing cash from her to fund his drug habit, Holland said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The motion said one plaintiff was able to change her birth certificate, and the office was unable to find an Idaho birth certificate for the other.—
Nicole Blanchard,
Idaho Statesman,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The plaintiff, Shaun Gray, is now facing potential liability for allegedly defrauding the studio and infringing on its copyrights.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Estimates placed the number of fighters at roughly 800, with militants reportedly crossing the border under the pretense of religious pilgrimages before gathering at a base in Ahvaz and being dispatched to various regions.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Russia also has invested heavily in Venezuela’s oil industry, as did China, and offered Caracas generous loans to purchase top-of-the-line air defense missiles, fighter jets and other weapons.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nawat Itsaragrisil, president of Miss Grand International (MGI), was seen scolding Fatima Bosch, a 25-year-old contestant from Mexico, ahead of the 74th Miss Universe competition being held in Bangkok later this month.—
Anabella González,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The pageant director accused Bosch of skipping promotional activities, including a photoshoot that all contestants were expected to share on social media.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Dearborn Heights Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE'S request for comment but Guzowski said an advocate has been assigned to the family.—
Paloma Chavez,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Community leaders demand arrest of ICE agent Local leaders and advocates in Minnesota called for the ICE agent who fatally shot Renee Nicole Good to be publicly identified, fired and criminally prosecuted at a news conference on Thursday.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Netflix was a disruptor, a forever-scrapper trying to gain the respect of Warner Bros.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Lee is sixty-one years old, a scrapper with a potent backstory.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Paul returned to the ring in June against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr, son of the legendary Mexican brawler.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
-
The episodes saw 12 brawlers face off in teams led by Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso, aiming to win over judges Williamson, Carson Kressley and Rodney Scott.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debater.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debater. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share