Synonyms of debates

debates 1 of 2

noun

plural of debate

1

as in deliberations

a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something

after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deliberations
• considerations
• studies
• thoughts
• accounts
• reflections
• contemplations
• advisements
• ruminations
• cogitations
• meditations
• hesitations
• introspections
• indecisions
• premeditations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• short shrifts

2

as in controversies

variance of opinion on a matter

there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• controversies
• disputations
• disputes
• disagreements
• differences
• contestations
• contentions
• firestorms
• dissensions
• difficulties
• arguments
• clashes
• conflictions
• conflicts
• nonconcurrences
• quarrels
• dissensuses
• fights
• discords
• dissonances
• struggles
• collisions
• altercations
• misunderstandings
• strifes
• bickers
• divarications
• divisions
• combats
• disaccords
• fallings-out
• kickups
• set-tos

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• agreements
• consensuses
• harmonies
• accords
• acceptances
• compliances
• unanimities
• concords
• peaces

3

as in discussions

an exchange of views for the purpose of exploring a subject or deciding an issue

there was no debate over the expenditures before the vote

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discussions
• consultations
• talks
• conversations
• consults
• conferences
• dialogues
• deliberations
• arguments
• meetings
• argumentations
• colloquies
• confabulations
• confabs
• palavers
• parleys
• seminars
• forums
• counsel
• councils
• back-and-forths
• consultancies
• symposia
• chats
• roundtables
• negotiations
• discourses
• give-and-takes
• argy-bargies
• chat rooms
• bull sessions
• skull sessions
• disquisitions
• talkathons
• raps
• words
• pourparlers

debates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of debate

1

as in studies

to give serious and careful thought to

still debating what to do

Synonyms & Similar Words

• studies
• questions
• ponders
• contemplates
• entertains
• considers
• eyes
• weighs
• reviews
• explores
• analyzes
• looks at
• deliberates
• thinks (about or over)
• ruminates
• mulls (over)
• cogitates
• wrestles (with)
• revolves
• meditates
• pores (over)
• chews on
• perpends
• chews over
• reflects (on or upon)
• digests
• turns
• beats one's brains out (about)
• reminisces
• cudgels one's brains (about)
• kicks around
• reasons
• muses (upon)
• speculates (about)
• concludes
• believes
• dwells (on or upon)
• fixates (on or upon)
• broods (about or over)
• frets (about or over)
• obsesses (about or over)
• opines
• second-guesses
• drinks (in)
• conceives
• absorbs
• assimilates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• ignores
• disregards
• overlooks
• rejects
• slights
• dismisses
• pooh-poohs

2

as in discusses

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discusses
• argues
• disputes
• reviews
• canvasses
• talks over
• moots
• bandies
• agitates
• bats (around or back and forth)
• hashes (over or out)
• raises
• speaks (about)
• talks (about)
• considers
• stirs up
• talks out
• introduces
• propounds
• weighs
• broaches
• hammers out
• deliberates
• wrestles (with)
• thrashes (out)
• forges
• chews over

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of debates

Noun

There's also plenty of debates and discussions, and that's what leads us here today. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

Her worldwide museum experience had taught her the foibles of museums and academia, but her sense of humor and common sense settled some sticky situations while moving (the museum) as a center for socially transformative debates. — Bob Goldsborough, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Shaw’s witty drawing-room debates also warn of a society indulging its whims as catastrophe approaches — a question of how to live when the world careens toward darkness. — Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026

The Lilliputians are as small-minded as their size and conduct querulous, violent debates about which end of an egg to crack (so obviously similar to the theological complexities of Swift’s own day). — Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2026

Collins made some mistakes during four debates with Jackson in the past month, including garbling the name of a Maine man shot and killed by ICE. — Chris Smith, Vanity Fair, 26 Oct. 2026

But the starting assumption of these debates is that responsible business conduct legislation is inherently costly, and that weakening EU legislation and prohibiting more ambitious member state laws will reduce those costs. — Ben Vanpeperstraete, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2026

There were Senate debates in two competitive states last night. — Jamie Ross, Washington Post, 22 Oct. 2026

With the debates now over, the candidates have less than two weeks to turn those arguments into votes. — Elaine Rojas-Castillo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Verb

But on Monday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened many of the investors drawn to the AI boom to gamblers and questioned the economics of AI labs as Wall Street debates whether the AI bubble will burst. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026

Co-star Tom Blyth will surely hold his own in Michael Arden’s production of a play that debates whether the rule of law in a democracy can fully protect us from a dangerous world. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026

As the group debates players, Pitt reveals the new modus operandi for the Oakland Athletics. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026

Executives of technology companies have diverged this week as the industry debates whether AI firms should pace innovation to address safety concerns. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

When the College Football Playoff selection committee pores over data points and debates the merits of each at-large hopeful in early December, the results of Week 2 are bound to loom large. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026

While his party debates abolishing prisons and owning grocery stores, Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie is cleaning up his city. — Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026

The show, which has been on air for 15 years, uses a roundtable format in which the panel debates politics, pop culture and other current events. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026

While everyone else debates the AI market with leaderboards and analyst estimates, Stripe would be able to watch it in real time. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026