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

Since the drama over debates erupted last week, Jolly’s position appears to have evolved into an ideological one — and a view that almost no other candidate on the Democratic ticket has publicly agreed with. — Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026

California’s 176-page voter guide is dense with ballot measure legalese, policy debates and obscure candidates for statewide office. — Ben Paviour, Sacbee.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Podium pressure Crunch time in Georgia’s top campaigns means the debate over debates is now in full swing. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 23 Sep. 2026

But voters should not reward candidates who hide behind weak excuses when avoiding debates and other unscripted events. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

Repeatedly, the novel feints from social debates about education and therefore about power, money, and assimilation. — Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Fazio wants at least six debates, while Lamont wants only two. — Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026

Trump’s decisions as president on one of the most consequential policy debates of his administration could affect the value of his personal investments. — Cat Zakrzewski, Washington Post, 20 Sep. 2026

National Museum of American History Director Anthea Hartig has told lawmakers that the museum does not take sides in contemporary political debates and instead seeks to preserve evidence of American life so visitors can form their own conclusions. — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2026

Verb

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

The download numbers are a reminder that even as Washington restricts chip exports and debates AI export controls, Chinese open models are winning developer mindshare globally. — Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 17 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