as in defendants
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
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Recent Examples of debaters
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
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
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
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
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
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debaters
Noun
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The agency noted that criminal charges are allegations and defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.—
Jasmine Baehr,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Three more defendants are awaiting extradition to San Diego.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The document filed by the Justice Department in the Los Angeles Superior Court case led by plaintiffs Todd and Kimberley Ferrier — whose Pacific Palisades home burned down — buttresses arguments made by the victims’ attorneys.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
6 May 2026
-
The plaintiffs are demanding that Cento bears the cost of the class notice and pays $25 million or more to the class members.—
Chiara Kim,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
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And today, as young fighters begin to be compared to him, there is no ego—only gratitude.—
Jorge Ebro
May 6,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
After an epic battle between fighters from Earthrealm and Outworld, MMA fighter Cole Young (Lewis Tan) heads to Hollywood in search of a new recruit.—
Nigel Smith,
PEOPLE,
6 May 2026
Noun
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And not just because one of the leading contestants torched himself and his political livelihood in a bonfire of hubris and stupidity.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Beast Games, a spectacle of over-the-top competition, offers 1,000 contestants the chance to win a $5 million prize with other high-value prizes being doled out in the process.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The meeting space inside Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Atlanta was packed with immigration advocates, members of Taylor's family and cameras as Taylor made his first public statement since his release.—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
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Opposition to this bill is not limited to homeschool advocates.—
James R Mason,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
Noun
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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
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Displacing the ’90s boom bap and aughts brawlers of her last album is a streak of assiduous ’80s R&B exercises that foreground her gains as a vocalist more often than her gobstopping wordplay as a rapper.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debaters. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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