debaters

noun

plural of debater
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

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 debaters Habitual debaters often blur these distinctions. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 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 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
  1. defendants
  2. plaintiffs
  3. fighters
  4. contestants
  5. advocates
  6. brawlers
Noun
  • An attorney representing the construction company has also denied the defendants’ allegations and could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
    — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 9 July 2026
  • The suit names Yale New Haven Hospital, Midstate Medical Center, and Hartford Healthcare Corporation as defendants.
    — Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
Definition of defendants
Noun
  • Unlike Williams, the plaintiffs in Lavan had not received advance notice of the sweeps.
    — Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • The DeSoto County plaintiffs asked Aycock to block the DeSoto County map from going into effect, and a hearing is scheduled to take place on July 22.
    — TAYLOR VANCE, ABC News, 8 July 2026
Definition of plaintiffs
Noun
  • According to the latest indictment, federal prosecutors allege that Paez enforces the Sinaloa Cartel’s operations in Sinaloa and Tijuana using armed fighters and hit men to carry out murders, kidnappings and other violent activity.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2026
  • Across the country, insurgent candidates-—-perhaps most notably Zohran Mamdani in New York City—have found traction by presenting themselves as unapologetic fighters willing to challenge both Republicans and their own party’s leadership.
    — Nik Popli, Time, 8 July 2026
Definition of fighters
Noun
  • The main studio is Room 1, and all the contestants start there, competing to accurately count the grains in a bag of rice.
    — Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 14 July 2026
  • With opportunities to earn money, buy properties and negotiate deals, the contestants must work to stay afloat as the bankrupt players get eliminated, with only one player left standing.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 13 July 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • There was, however, criticism of the deal among legal and immigrant advocates.
    — Alan Gionet, CBS News, 14 July 2026
  • If Sherwood-area schools break away from the Pulaski County Special School District, the new school district would be the state's 16th-largest by enrollment, according to a feasibility study commissioned by Sherwood public school advocates.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 July 2026
Definition of advocates
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of brawlers

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Cite this Entry

“Debaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debaters. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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