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
On Sept 5, 2024, a year before his death, Charlie Kirk was debating at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
—
Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
The effect is to infuse the story with an undeniable and knowing nostalgia; how quaint, at Alma’s party, to find everyone debating matters of representational consequence.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
This discipline, debating until the best idea survives, teaches future leaders to welcome scrutiny, pressure-test their own reasoning, and make tough calls with limited information.
—Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
After Kirk was shot and killed while debating onstage at a Utah college campus earlier this month, those criticisms have only become more relevant.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Kirk was a prolific podcaster, known for debating and defending his conservative, Christian values on the show.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The second episode of the 27th season saw Eric Cartman become a right-wing podcaster in the style of Kirk, who toured college campuses debating progressive students.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Their party is out of power in Washington, flummoxed by low approval ratings, and still debating the decisions that cost it the 2024 election.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
His post sparked hundreds of comments debating whether this behavior reflected irresponsibility or a rational shift in spending priorities.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Meagan Jordan, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
The effect is to infuse the story with an undeniable and knowing nostalgia; how quaint, at Alma’s party, to find everyone debating matters of representational consequence.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
This discipline, debating until the best idea survives, teaches future leaders to welcome scrutiny, pressure-test their own reasoning, and make tough calls with limited information.
—Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
After Kirk was shot and killed while debating onstage at a Utah college campus earlier this month, those criticisms have only become more relevant.
—Rebecca Jennings, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2025
Kirk was a prolific podcaster, known for debating and defending his conservative, Christian values on the show.
—Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 27 Sep. 2025
The second episode of the 27th season saw Eric Cartman become a right-wing podcaster in the style of Kirk, who toured college campuses debating progressive students.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2025
Their party is out of power in Washington, flummoxed by low approval ratings, and still debating the decisions that cost it the 2024 election.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 24 Sep. 2025
His post sparked hundreds of comments debating whether this behavior reflected irresponsibility or a rational shift in spending priorities.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debating
Verb
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Instead, the Mets are back to square one, pondering a new kind of disappointment.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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Over a mashup of fiddles and guitars, Tod and Jennings blend their rough-hewn voices on a song about consequences for older vices and choices, pondering when the consequences of those actions outweigh the vices themselves.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ballerini also fielded questions from patients, discussing preferred superpowers and her favorite fast food.—
Beth Warren,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
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After the passage of a new state law, Louisville officials are discussing where freestanding birthing centers could open in the city.—
Ray Padilla,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Now, Brown is losing followers, other creators are weighing in, and another Hannah Brown is contemplating ways to distance herself from the whole thing.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
27 Sep. 2025
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In a Fox Business interview, Carr mentioned that the FTC is contemplating broadening its click-to-cancel rulemaking, asserting his disagreement with the previous administration’s approach to establishing the rule.—
Jordan Green,
Nashville Tennessean,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For decades, DeLodder said, hospitals have quelled the establishment of freestanding birthing centers by arguing against their necessity.—
Killian Baarlaer,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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The budget director wrote the project’s chapter on the Executive Office of the President, arguing that the bureaucracy is riddled with inefficiencies and corruption.—
Emily Hallas,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And considering Maye’s 17 sacks this season — already half his total from 2024 — McDaniels had plenty of reasons to justify a conservative approach.—
Jeff Howe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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Panelist Alex Minard, NCTA’s vice president and lead legislative counsel, said 24 states are considering legislation to address this problem.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Saved by Geometry In the early 2000s, Alexander Postnikov, a mathematician at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, was studying a geometric object known as the positive Grassmannian.—
Kevin Hartnett,
Quanta Magazine,
6 Oct. 2025
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By studying lake sediments, soil layers, and nearby landforms, researchers determined the ancient lake’s size and shape and how the climate changed.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The club’s former general manager Pierpaolo Marino then poured fuel on the fire by questioning whether Scott McTominay should have been pushed out to the left of midfield to make way for summer arrival De Bruyne.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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He also was sought for questioning in a child abuse case, Ferrell said.—
Jade Jackson,
IndyStar,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This cake stand has also been blessed by the queen of entertaining herself, Martha Stewart.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
7 Oct. 2025
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With over 100 recipes, it’s filled with colorful stories, gorgeous photographs, and Ivy’s uniquely Southern ideas for entertaining.—
Sid Evans,
Southern Living,
7 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debating. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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