debates 1 of 2

noun

plural of debate
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

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debates

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of debate
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. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of debates
Noun
This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine. — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026 Over the decades, the motives for ending public executions and moving them into prisons have varied – frequently separate from debates over capital punishment. — The Monitor's Editorial Board, Christian Science Monitor, 14 Oct. 2026 There was plenty of jousting as well in the third of give debates planned in the race. — Jared Gans, The Hill, 14 Oct. 2026 Senate candidates in three critical competitive states clashed in debates Tuesday night. — Washington Post, 14 Oct. 2026 Interpretive debates about the wording of Sweeney’s order were punted in August, when a different three-judge panel on the 10th Circuit granted the NCAA a stay of the nationwide eligibility injunction. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026 The same principle applies to debates about religion, economics and virtually any subject capable of provoking strong emotions. — Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026 These debates are already influencing local zoning and permitting decisions, and increasingly reaching state lawmakers. — John Kotcher, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2026 The Sox’s pitching plans are a daily mystery, and worries over Grant Taylor’s right arm falling off have become nightly debates in South Side bars. — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 9 Oct. 2026
Verb
But on Monday, Broadcom CEO Hock Tan likened many of the investors drawn to the AI boom to gamblers and questioned the economics of AI labs as Wall Street debates whether the AI bubble will burst. — Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026 Co-star Tom Blyth will surely hold his own in Michael Arden’s production of a play that debates whether the rule of law in a democracy can fully protect us from a dangerous world. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 23 Sep. 2026 As the group debates players, Pitt reveals the new modus operandi for the Oakland Athletics. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026 Executives of technology companies have diverged this week as the industry debates whether AI firms should pace innovation to address safety concerns. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026 When the College Football Playoff selection committee pores over data points and debates the merits of each at-large hopeful in early December, the results of Week 2 are bound to loom large. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026 While his party debates abolishing prisons and owning grocery stores, Democratic Mayor Daniel Lurie is cleaning up his city. — Kate Andrews, Washington Post, 27 Aug. 2026 The show, which has been on air for 15 years, uses a roundtable format in which the panel debates politics, pop culture and other current events. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026 While everyone else debates the AI market with leaderboards and analyst estimates, Stripe would be able to watch it in real time. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debates
  1. deliberations
  2. controversies
  3. discussions
  4. studies
  5. discusses
  6. considerations
  7. disputations
  8. consultations
Noun
  • The sentence came after roughly three hours of jury deliberations following a two-and-a-half-week trial.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Rankin said the funding later came before the full board during public budget deliberations.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of deliberations
Noun
  • While the show is beloved, its legacy has also been marred with a series of tragedies and controversies, both on and off screen.
    — Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Rodríguez also accused Uthmeier of trying to divert attention from controversies involving Hope Florida and Alligator Alcatraz, the state’s immigration detention facility.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of controversies
Noun
  • According to people familiar with discussions about the policy, Bennett’s prior objections were a message intended for his domestic political constituency.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Typically, when someone wants to donate large sums to a nonprofit, weeks or months of discussions ensue.
    — Christopher Spata, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of discussions
Verb
  • Shelie Miller, who studies sustainability at the University of Michigan, understands how an acorn squash can end up in your cart without a plan.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • So to make up for that, Viel studies his opponents to find ways to overcome his lack of height.
    — Eduardo A. Encina, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of studies
Verb
  • This article discusses all six episodes of Netflix’s The New Stanford Prison Experiment.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The film follows a cast that discusses their memories, their relationships and their identity — all through the lens of color, Adidas said.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of discusses
Noun
  • Technical considerations can be discussed, but the decisions that shape an image ultimately arise from something inexplicable.
    — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Security considerations such as encryption and securely retiring storage media also remain important.
    — Paul Speciale, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of considerations
Noun
  • This contestation takes place through philosophical debates, religious disputations, and public discussions, whether direct or indirect, open or clandestine.
    — Mansoor Moaddel, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • 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
Definition of disputations
Noun
  • The department also offers security consultations to help businesses identify vulnerabilities and improve their safety measures.
    — Tara Lynch, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • British officials have been expected to make a decision since August, when public consultations on the two projects closed.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of consultations

Browse Nearby Words

debaters
debates
debating
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Cite this Entry

“Debates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debates. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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