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
Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
South America is buzzing with debates over whether Maduro should be exiled or imprisoned.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
The dueling, hourslong hearings on Thursday offered a preview of the upcoming floor debates, which will take shape in the House and Senate over the next week.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Ongoing debates at the ILO demonstrate the stakes.
—Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
However, some of you will also be pumped with debates and discussions about philosophy, religion or politics.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
When asked about the current national debates about how to teach difficult history, Morris said his museum will continue doing public history work.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Members are bracing for a robust primary competition, plenty of Democratic debates, and a possible calendar shake-up to allow different states to go first.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
The case highlights ongoing national debates surrounding religious freedom, free speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in educational settings.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
While the West debates AI guardrails, adversaries are pressing forward without hesitation.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In another book, Miriam Toews’s novel Women Talking, which is based on a true story, a group of Mennonite women debates whether to flee their isolated community—or stay and fight—after a group of men are caught drugging and raping them.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Alcaraz and Sinner are early enough in their careers that debates around their legacies feel silly.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Noun
These are the kinds of debates Evans and others behind the scenes at Leeds had to have this summer.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2025
South America is buzzing with debates over whether Maduro should be exiled or imprisoned.
—Kristina Foltz, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
The dueling, hourslong hearings on Thursday offered a preview of the upcoming floor debates, which will take shape in the House and Senate over the next week.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2025
Ongoing debates at the ILO demonstrate the stakes.
—Kristen Edgreen Kaufman, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
However, some of you will also be pumped with debates and discussions about philosophy, religion or politics.
—Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025
When asked about the current national debates about how to teach difficult history, Morris said his museum will continue doing public history work.
—Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 31 Aug. 2025
Members are bracing for a robust primary competition, plenty of Democratic debates, and a possible calendar shake-up to allow different states to go first.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 28 Aug. 2025
The case highlights ongoing national debates surrounding religious freedom, free speech, and LGBTQ+ rights, particularly in educational settings.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
Stickers posted in the men's rooms in the Capitol Extension as the House debates the bathroom bill, #SB8.
—James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
While the West debates AI guardrails, adversaries are pressing forward without hesitation.
—Tony Bradley, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
In another book, Miriam Toews’s novel Women Talking, which is based on a true story, a group of Mennonite women debates whether to flee their isolated community—or stay and fight—after a group of men are caught drugging and raping them.
—Hillary Kelly, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
Alcaraz and Sinner are early enough in their careers that debates around their legacies feel silly.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debates
Noun
-
The person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations, cautioned that the talks were in the early stages and that no proposal has been finalized.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Senior Justice Department officials have held internal deliberations in recent days over potentially issuing a rule that could restrict transgender individuals from being able to own firearms, two officials familiar with the discussions confirmed Thursday to ABC News.—
Alexander Mallin,
ABC News,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kraft later said he was disappointed in how the docuseries focused on controversies instead of the team’s success.—
Doug Kyed,
Boston Herald,
7 Sep. 2025
-
Canceled also highlights other controversies in Deen's career, including her public spats with Bourdain, the world-traveling chef and CNN travel documentarian who later died by suicide in 2018.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The discussions come in the wake of the shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic school last month that federal officials have said was carried out by a transgender shooter, according to a person familiar with the matter.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Professors will record their lectures and other classroom discussions in a professional television studio, with quality lighting and audio.—
John Wisely,
Freep.com,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Kraus is a professor of neurobiology at Northwestern's School of Communication who studies the biology of auditory learning, according to the university's website.—
Jenna Sundel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Gillian Forrester, who studies comparative cognition at the University of Sussex in England and was not involved in either study, says social attention is key to maintaining a good reputation.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Scientific American,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The chef and cookbook author discusses breastfeeding in public and feeding her 14-month-old spicy food.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
3 Sep. 2025
-
A little before that, McElwee inserts an extremely candid interview in which Adrian, who has just gotten out of another rehab program in Colorado, discusses his addiction problems with honesty and intelligence.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Immigration and confidence are two major considerations for David Doyle, Macquarie’s head of economics.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
In their permit applications, companies cite this reality, often listing financial considerations as the reason for seeking exemptions, Oilfield Witness found.—
ProPublica,
ProPublica,
4 Sep. 2025
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
-
The survey, purportedly designed to influence Treasury consultations on remote gambling taxation, represents the latest salvo in the industry's campaign against regulatory tightening.—
Boaz Sobrado,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Based in Nashville and working on projects across the country, the firm—which takes virtual consultations—brings its fresh style to new builds, renovations, and single or multiple room designs.—
Elizabeth Stamp,
Architectural Digest,
2 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debates. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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