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

This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026

Over the decades, the motives for ending public executions and moving them into prisons have varied – frequently separate from debates over capital punishment. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026

There was plenty of jousting as well in the third of give debates planned in the race. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026

Senate candidates in three critical competitive states clashed in debates Tuesday night. — Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026

Interpretive debates about the wording of Sweeney’s order were punted in August, when a different three-judge panel on the 10th Circuit granted the NCAA a stay of the nationwide eligibility injunction. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026

The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026

These debates are already influencing local zoning and permitting decisions, and increasingly reaching state lawmakers. — John Kotcher, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026

The Sox’s pitching plans are a daily mystery, and worries over Grant Taylor’s right arm falling off have become nightly debates in South Side bars. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 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