1
as in pondering
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussing
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 debating
The Oxford Union debating society announced Tuesday the ouster of President-elect George Abaraonye after reported comments celebrating the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
—
Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 22 Oct. 2025
What To Know Measure 26-260 was crafted by the Portland City Council and referred to voters in June after months of debating how to present it to residents.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Qerim won a lot of respect, including from ESPN staffers, with her knack for calmly reining in Smith and the voluble personalities debating him.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, was assassinated at Utah Valley University while debating college students.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court on Wednesday spent hours debating whether electoral districts can be created to protect minorities' voting rights without discriminating against others.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Fed officials themselves are debating how best to steer the economy.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Our energy is better spent wrestling with that complexity — and seeking ways through it — than debating which legal definition best fits this tragedy.
—Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
With the nation's 250th anniversary approaching, many teachers, parents and politicians are debating the best ways for students to learn about American history.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Lexi Lonas Cochran, The Hill, 22 Oct. 2025
What To Know Measure 26-260 was crafted by the Portland City Council and referred to voters in June after months of debating how to present it to residents.
—Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Qerim won a lot of respect, including from ESPN staffers, with her knack for calmly reining in Smith and the voluble personalities debating him.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025
Kirk, who would have turned 32 on Tuesday, was assassinated at Utah Valley University while debating college students.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2025
The Supreme Court on Wednesday spent hours debating whether electoral districts can be created to protect minorities' voting rights without discriminating against others.
—Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 15 Oct. 2025
Fed officials themselves are debating how best to steer the economy.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
Our energy is better spent wrestling with that complexity — and seeking ways through it — than debating which legal definition best fits this tragedy.
—Dafna Michaelson Jenet, Denver Post, 12 Oct. 2025
With the nation's 250th anniversary approaching, many teachers, parents and politicians are debating the best ways for students to learn about American history.
—Cory Turner, NPR, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debating
Verb
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The Forest owner has been pondering his options That is not unusual — the Greek shipping magnate always likes to have a plan B in place.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
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That’s 16 days of public silence and private plotting — 16 days of preparing for a case management conference and pondering motions and strategizing for the discovery process and delving into every facet of this year-long case that has no end in sight.—
Jon Wilner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Western officials, while refraining from discussing operational details, have stressed their commitment to defending critical undersea infrastructure and monitoring sites with strategic vulnerabilities.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
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Thursday's season 7 debut included a teaser looking ahead toward future episodes, with a portion near the end including a shot of the 45-year-old All's Fair star getting an MRI before discussing an update on her health.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Louise Hémon The jury would also like to acknowledge a director whose film transported us into an extreme landscape, and created an unsettling atmosphere that kept us contemplating the nature of lust, education, and violence.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
24 Oct. 2025
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But the old flivver was ticking along, reminding Drew of happy hours—leaning on opposing fenders under its hood with Lloyd, contemplating the Dart’s latest ailment.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While Spanish chroniclers numbered the population around the time of European contact to have been 1 million, anthropologists have disputed this, arguing instead for the population to have been 6–12 million.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Oct. 2025
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Republicans have been arguing for a budget extension before negotiating on the credits.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Before the game, manager John Schneider called for Dodger fans not to boo him, considering how much time had passed.—
Nelson Espinal,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Oct. 2025
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At least one student at the student body meeting considering the chapter objected to TPUSA's values, according to left-wing blog Fight Back!—
Anders Hagstrom,
FOXNews.com,
28 Oct. 2025
Verb
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After studying her pictures, Walter realized that the corona was not homogeneous.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Oct. 2025
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One telling sequence early on has the children studying in a classroom featuring depictions of Mohammed, Jesus, Lao Tzu, Buddha and Confucius, highlighting to what extent the Bujang Valley had been a melting pot of cultures and religions.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In this case, Palazzolo borrows from another artist who shares the same irreverence for societal norms, all while questioning our society’s worship of labor.—
Mario Rodriguez,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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Noncompliant ships would be subject to on-site inspections, questioning, and possible detention.—
Charlie Campbell,
Time,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Located on the top floor of a historic 1920s building right by Fulton Market, this prime Airbnb is great for entertaining.—
Gabriela Ulloa,
Architectural Digest,
25 Oct. 2025
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The basement bar now serves as a stylish hub for entertaining.—
Kathy Barnes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debating. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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