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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of debates
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
But the conversations and debates happening — whether within families, in clinics, or on public platforms — should be based on facts, not judgment.
—
Michelle Sie Whitten,
STAT,
25 June 2026
CharlotteFive lands daily with the city’s food scene, openings, closings, things to do and reader debates like the one above.
—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 June 2026
Concerns about wealth inequality have sparked heated political debates about how much billionaires should contribute.
—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Even for a party accustomed to searing debates between progressives and moderates, the schism over Israel has been blistering.
—
Steve Peoples,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The former vice president focused on the debates that defined the country's founding and its ramifications on the present-day United States, omitting details about her 2024 presidential race.
—
Kalia Richardson,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Lawmakers in Haiti, for example, have been known to pause parliamentary debates to watch Brazil play.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Research grounded in social identity theory suggests that people frequently incorporate national attachment into their personal identity, which helps explain why debates about patriotism can feel deeply emotional rather than purely intellectual.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
So vetting needs pre-agreed criteria like strategic fit, feasibility, and speed to impact scored before the room debates, so the idea gets evaluated instead of the person who had it.
—
Nir Bashan,
Forbes.com,
23 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
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
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
Noun
The measure received bipartisan support from legislators and was approved with little discussion Thursday, unlike the housing bond and ‘rainy day fund’ debates.
—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
25 June 2026
But the conversations and debates happening — whether within families, in clinics, or on public platforms — should be based on facts, not judgment.
—
Michelle Sie Whitten,
STAT,
25 June 2026
CharlotteFive lands daily with the city’s food scene, openings, closings, things to do and reader debates like the one above.
—
Melissa Oyler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 June 2026
Concerns about wealth inequality have sparked heated political debates about how much billionaires should contribute.
—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
25 June 2026
Even for a party accustomed to searing debates between progressives and moderates, the schism over Israel has been blistering.
—
Steve Peoples,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
The former vice president focused on the debates that defined the country's founding and its ramifications on the present-day United States, omitting details about her 2024 presidential race.
—
Kalia Richardson,
USA Today,
24 June 2026
Lawmakers in Haiti, for example, have been known to pause parliamentary debates to watch Brazil play.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
18 June 2026
Research grounded in social identity theory suggests that people frequently incorporate national attachment into their personal identity, which helps explain why debates about patriotism can feel deeply emotional rather than purely intellectual.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
As Silicon Valley debates whether AI will replace millions of office workers, one of the executives building the technology’s underlying infrastructure says Gen Z shouldn’t buy into the apocalyptic job displacement predictions.
—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
24 June 2026
So vetting needs pre-agreed criteria like strategic fit, feasibility, and speed to impact scored before the room debates, so the idea gets evaluated instead of the person who had it.
—
Nir Bashan,
Forbes.com,
23 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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debates
Noun
-
Raymond Meza, who chaired the Charter Reform Commission, acknowledged that pay, staffing and the cost of each council office didn’t come up during his panel’s deliberations.
-
All documents, including drafts and internal deliberations, concerning MLB’s decision to issue and publicly announce the June 2026 warnings, and any analysis of whether doing so adhered to the Code or with MLB’s treatment of comparable non-religious expression.
Noun
-
Has this reignited the controversies surrounding you and your translation?
-
Around the same time, Hogshead began a letter writing campaign aimed at drawing broader attention to Butler’s controversies and urging other volleyball organizations and teams to disassociate themselves from him.
Noun
-
Stock Chart IconStock chart icon The discussions at the Swiss resort of Bürgenstock marked the first negotiations since Washington and Tehran signed a memorandum of understanding last week to end their conflict and extend a shaky ceasefire for at least 60 days.
-
The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity to describe private discussions, said talks included clarifying what Iran meant by recent statements about the Strait of Hormuz.
Verb
-
Scientific American spoke with Devika Bhushan, a public health physician and adjunct faculty member at Stanford University School of Medicine, who studies gender norms, about the ways in which fatherhood affects men’s brains and the mental health struggles dads face.
-
By the way, a phycologist is a biological scientist who actually studies phytoplankton and algae.
Verb
-
In the first part of this exclusive two-part interview, Lollichon discusses his working relationship with Cech at Rennes and Chelsea, and the preparation that went into Cech’s unforgettable heroics on the run to Champions League glory in Munich in 2012.
-
The latest episode of Inside Inter Miami discusses the latest move by the club to bolster its roster and try to repeat as MLS Cup champions.
Noun
-
Other practical considerations could complicate such an effort, such as how towns would make up for the millions of dollars in tax revenues that are currently paid on utility property.
-
What to Plant with Dahlias Based on the above considerations, here are some suggestions that work well as companion plants for dahlias.
Noun
-
According to him, advances in machine learning have yanked questions once trapped inside theological/philosophical disputations into corporate board packs.
Noun
-
Start by requesting a full estimate of the procedure, including consultations, lab work, and follow-up appointments.
-
Although these other agencies are not specified, these consultations could involve the Department of State, the National Security Council and the Department of Justice.
Cite this Entry
“Debates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debates. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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