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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
1
as in studies
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debates
Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 10 June 2026
The unrest is fueling fraught debates over immigration, online far-right agitation and even Northern Ireland’s open border with the Republic — a cornerstone of the peace process.
—Peter Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
But the main debates within the SBC in recent years have been over how far to move on the religious and political right.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
His position gives Baltimore City a powerful voice in budget discussions, policy debates and statewide priorities.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Most of the debates and forums in the race have only featured the top four candidates, all of whom are men.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
In the governor's race, as many as nine candidates polled well enough to qualify for major debates, creating a tough choice for many voters.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 11 June 2026
Burt Jones debates an empty podium, while Rick Jackson holds a rally in Kennesaw.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 2 June 2026
That time was just a fraction of the 14 hours and 41 minutes Sampson spoke during Senate debates this session — about 18% of the total time the legislative body spent in debate, according to a CT Mirror analysis that employed artificial intelligence.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
As the podcast industry debates the definition of a podcast and wades through unclear ad measurement tools, a secret industrywide taskforce has been meeting to combat the problem.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Finally, leaders should pay attention to who speaks less when one person debates more.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
When Nature Doesn’t Wait While the museum world debates loans and returns, a more immediate threat is accelerating.
—Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
Data center debates takeover small town Texas Many state and local officials welcome the blossoming industry as an economic opportunity in small communities where revenue can be hard to come by.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
The Senate typically debates and passes its budget in the week before Memorial Day.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Noun
Kristi Burton Brown, another former state party chair, questioned Marx’s apparent disinterest in policy discussions and debates.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 11 June 2026
But the case has spurred heated debates about policing and race, and a protest over Nowak’s death turned violent with some attacking police with chairs and rocks.
—Henry Austin, NBC news, 10 June 2026
The unrest is fueling fraught debates over immigration, online far-right agitation and even Northern Ireland’s open border with the Republic — a cornerstone of the peace process.
—Peter Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2026
But the main debates within the SBC in recent years have been over how far to move on the religious and political right.
—ABC News, 10 June 2026
His position gives Baltimore City a powerful voice in budget discussions, policy debates and statewide priorities.
—Bobby Zirkin, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026
Most of the debates and forums in the race have only featured the top four candidates, all of whom are men.
—Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 10 June 2026
Also, Mars will slip into Gemini and your seventh house of agreements, commitments and adversaries, heating up relationship dynamics, making debates faster and more direct.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 4 June 2026
In the governor's race, as many as nine candidates polled well enough to qualify for major debates, creating a tough choice for many voters.
—Austin Turner, CBS News, 4 June 2026
Verb
The big story While Hollywood continues to work out how best to use AI and debates its effect on jobs, filmmakers in India — the world’s most prolific movie production industry — have taken the next step.
—Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 11 June 2026
Burt Jones debates an empty podium, while Rick Jackson holds a rally in Kennesaw.
—Adam Beam, AJC.com, 2 June 2026
That time was just a fraction of the 14 hours and 41 minutes Sampson spoke during Senate debates this session — about 18% of the total time the legislative body spent in debate, according to a CT Mirror analysis that employed artificial intelligence.
—Ginny Monk, Hartford Courant, 1 June 2026
As the podcast industry debates the definition of a podcast and wades through unclear ad measurement tools, a secret industrywide taskforce has been meeting to combat the problem.
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026
Finally, leaders should pay attention to who speaks less when one person debates more.
—Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
When Nature Doesn’t Wait While the museum world debates loans and returns, a more immediate threat is accelerating.
—Annika Erikson, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2026
Data center debates takeover small town Texas Many state and local officials welcome the blossoming industry as an economic opportunity in small communities where revenue can be hard to come by.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2026
The Senate typically debates and passes its budget in the week before Memorial Day.
—State House News Service, Boston Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debates
Noun
-
Attorneys will finalize jury instructions before deliberations begin following the closing arguments on Tuesday.—
Shambhavi Rimal,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 June 2026
-
Closing arguments in the case are slated for Tuesday morning, after which the jury will start deliberations.—
Suzanne Gamboa,
NBC news,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Located opposite the balcony where King was shot, the museum’s new Legacy Experience focuses, with urgency, on the modern era, with its controversies over immigration and Black Lives Matter activism.—
USA TODAY Network,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
-
And other controversies, like the war in Iran, have overtaken the immigration policy debate.—
Ximena Bustillo,
NPR,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
The Kim-Xi meeting could include discussions on resuming Chinese tourism to North Korea and opening a bridge over the Yalu River that has remained unused years after its completion, Koh said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 June 2026
-
Simard’s discussions with First Native people led her to include centuries-old Indigenous, natural-world wisdom into her studies and conclusions.—
The Know,
Denver Post,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Governor Mike DeWine ordered a halt to a program offering tax breaks while a committee studies the economic impact of the projects.—
Yash Roy,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
During a Metropolitan Public Transportation Authority meeting in March, that officer, Eric Osnes, said his team now studies footage of assaults on drivers to learn lessons that may mitigate future conflicts.—
Caitlin McGlade,
Charlotte Observer,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
The following story discusses suicide.—
Théoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
-
When Cassidy discusses his daughter's learning habits, the senator gets emotional.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Outside of income, there are additional demographic considerations driving these trends within the segment of single female homeowners.—
Kathy Collins,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
In 2025, the office was hoping to tackle neuroethics — questions of sentience in brain organoids and considerations for recipients of brain-computer interfaces.—
Megan Molteni,
STAT,
5 June 2026
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
As a result, what might once have been considered a minor issue may now involve diagnostic imaging, specialist consultations or prescription medications that quickly add up.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
San Priy booked Canyon Ranch’s Longevity8 program in Tucson, Arizona a four-day stay that included diagnostic tests, consultations, hikes, walks and bike rides.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
10 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debates. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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