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
Companies routinely spend years debating acquisitions, factory investments, and technology platforms.
—
Phil Lodico,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Americans are debating whether love requires affirmation or honesty.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
What are legislators debating in Georgia's special session?
—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Others sat on curbs in small groups, looking at their phones and debating their next move.
—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Muscle loss has been another persistent concern, with researchers debating how much of the weight lost on GLP-1 drugs is fat versus lean mass.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
But people have been debating for years whether Spielberg really was the one calling the shots on the set.
—
Chris Nashawaty,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Correspondent Mo Rocca goes inside the landmark with those debating its fate, and those reimagining its future.
—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
But that’s what NHL teams must do every year, getting their scouts and executives together and debating players from different leagues to come up with a final draft list.
—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Phil Lodico,
Fortune,
20 June 2026
Americans are debating whether love requires affirmation or honesty.
—
Maia Niguel Hoskin,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
What are legislators debating in Georgia's special session?
—
Irene Wright,
USA Today,
17 June 2026
Others sat on curbs in small groups, looking at their phones and debating their next move.
—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2026
Muscle loss has been another persistent concern, with researchers debating how much of the weight lost on GLP-1 drugs is fat versus lean mass.
—
Allison Palmer
updated June 13,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2026
But people have been debating for years whether Spielberg really was the one calling the shots on the set.
—
Chris Nashawaty,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 June 2026
Correspondent Mo Rocca goes inside the landmark with those debating its fate, and those reimagining its future.
—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
But that’s what NHL teams must do every year, getting their scouts and executives together and debating players from different leagues to come up with a final draft list.
—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debating
Verb
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Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following Burnham’s special election victory.
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Starmer spent the weekend pondering his future following Burnham's special election victory.
Verb
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Florida has passed legislation restricting schools from discussing topics related to race and gender, books have been banned that mention race and sexuality.
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Philpot took a trip down memory lane while discussing past seasons of the show, recalling the alternating love-hate relationship between Jean Smart’s Deborah Vance and Hannah Einbinder’s Ava Daniels.
Verb
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While no regional power is currently capable of replacing the US as the Gulf’s security guarantor, officials are increasingly contemplating a future in which Washington plays a much smaller role in the regional security architecture, the diplomat said.
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An inflation rate now at its highest level in three years, combined with a high Federal funds rate that's unlikely to change anytime soon, not to mention the possibility of interest rate hikes later this year, has left many savers contemplating their next move.
Verb
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The chamber has disputed that characterization, arguing the bill will drive up costs for consumers.
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But the industry groups are still arguing that film credits should be entirely exempt from the new limitations, as they have already been accounted for and approved by the Legislature through 2030.
Verb
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Timberwolves general manager Matt Lloyd said Minnesota was considering selecting Duke wing Isaiah Evans with the 28th pick in this week’s NBA Draft, prior to the Wolves sliding back five selections due to the Julius Randle trade.
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That’s key considering the film’s hard-to-classify nature, in which Early, first of all playing a woman, portrays an aspiring food influencer and content creator who is struggling with an eating disorder.
Verb
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That led to the Identity Project, a multiyear effort in which Bloomfield High School students spent the year studying the Holocaust and genocide.
-
González developed her classic yet defiantly modern approach while studying at the University of Seville, where Spanish masters such as Diego Velázquez and Francisco de Zurbarán painted in the naturalist Baroque tradition.
Verb
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Conservative critics seized upon those allegations, accusing Hosseini of exerting outsized influence over UF’s presidential search process and questioning whether trustees had exercised independent judgment in selecting Bell.
-
What immediately followed that bright June day were dark months marred by the state’s largest criminal investigation in history coming up empty, police questioning second graders for new leads and mounting legal battles among the Horman family grappling with utter devastation.
Verb
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Serving trays for entertaining over $50 This classy Mother of Pearl serving tray is made to order with custom sizing and trim.
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From neighborhood potlucks to fireworks watch parties, Sam's Club is rolling out plenty of festive finds to help make Fourth of July entertaining easier and more fun.
Cite this Entry
“Debating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debating. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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