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

Blackburn declined in July to participate in any debates, and Rose backed out when it was set to be only him and Fritts on stage. — Caroline Linton, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

Larkin has used Moskowitz’s refusal to appear with him to accuse the reelection-seeking congressman of ducking debates and avoiding the voters. — Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2026

The video went viral, prompting a presidential hospital visit and igniting right-to-die debates in the country. — Vanessa Rampton, STAT, 5 Aug. 2026

Skubal's comments get to the heart of one of baseball's most predictable debates. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Ahead of all the debates and networking, Duffner took time to talk to THR about the return of the Locarno Investment Community for its second year, the choice of Uruguay, the hot issues in focus and why AI will be touched on throughout the program. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 Aug. 2026

In recent quarters, one of the debates surrounding Starbucks centered on whether Niccol's Back to Starbucks plan would start translating into an improved bottom line. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026

But the party’s past debates over crime and safety threaten to undermine that pitch. — ABC News, 31 July 2026

That finding arrives in the middle of one of the most fractured debates in economics right now — one where even the people building the AI systems can’t agree on what their own data shows. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Verb

Nvidia is heading up a new alliance of tech industry giants focused on keeping open-source AI models secure as Washington debates how and whether to restrict them. — Morgan Chalfant, semafor.com, 27 July 2026

The ’Obsession’ And ’Backrooms’ Lesson While Hollywood debates the merger, two films arrived that reframed what’s possible. — Ashlee Difuntorum, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

The post lands as Washington debates whether to restrict Chinese open-weight models like Moonshot AI’s Kimi K3, which was released July 16 and ranks among the most capable models anywhere. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 24 July 2026

However, Ryan McCormick, co-founder of Goldman McCormick PR, told Fox News Digital that debates over historical accuracy are unlikely to deter most moviegoers. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 17 July 2026

Paxton’s campaign declined to elaborate on which debates Paxton plans to participate in and whether they’ll be televised. — Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026

While the country debates its own past, Stan Franklin was at the memorial thinking about its future. — Chris Kenning, USA Today, 2 July 2026

As Congress debates the transportation bill, Oklahoma’s future may depend on more than roads. — Stephen Martin, Oklahoma Watch, 28 June 2026

But also debates within the Labour Party, the state of the polls, the development of public opinion, and the success or otherwise of the government in generating growth by other means. — Anand Menon, Time, 13 June 2026