DEBATING Synonyms: 78 Similar and Opposite Words

debating

verb

present participle of debate

as in pondering

to give serious and careful thought to still debating what to do

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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 debating No one in the courtroom is debating Patrick Clancy’s guilt or innocence. — Addie Morfoot, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026 Iran’s parliament is debating a bill to withdraw from the NPT, according to Iranian lawmakers. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 But the race has not turned into the nail-biter most anticipated, and Democrats outside Georgia are taking notice – at a time when the party is debating how to escape the political wilderness and win back a majority in Congress. — Sam Gringlas, NPR, 27 Aug. 2026 Lopez was represented by Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods, who argued jurors should be debating involuntary manslaughter, not murder. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 The company, which did not comment for this story, has had internal guidelines in place since 2019 that discourage employees from debating politics. — Sylvia Varnham O’Regan, Vanity Fair, 25 Aug. 2026 Nobody's debating whether that person gets to sit in the stands. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Within days, Wall Street was debating whether activist investors might try to break up Big Blue. — Harvard Business Review, 24 Aug. 2026 Supporters are circulating clips of Ossoff’s speeches, debating his prospects against other potential 2028 Democratic contenders and increasingly comparing his trajectory with Obama’s rapid rise from the Senate to the White House. — Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for debating

Verb

Kronengold and Shaw are still pondering what will come of that if Adults gets to be renewed.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Instead, the fast-casual restaurant chain's CEO and co-founder woke up pondering the country's ongoing cyclospora outbreak.

— Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of pondering

Verb

This means a vaccine or treatment isn't routinely recommended for everyone, but may be appropriate for some people after discussing the benefits and risks with a healthcare provider.

— Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026
The show features Lovett and a panel of guests from the worlds of politics, comedy, journalism and business discussing and poking fun at the news of the week.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of discussing

Verb

Moreno, who in 2003 became baseball’s first Latino owner, was still contemplating a potential exit strategy, according to new club president Molly Jolly.

— Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
In 2023, the Miami Herald reported that Díaz-Canel told a room of Cuban American businesspeople that the Cuban government was contemplating letting Cuban Americans invest in and own businesses on the island, and was working on legislation to do it.

— Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of contemplating

Verb

The group has—so far unsuccessfully—called on both the NCAA and Big 12 to end the affiliation, arguing against universities participating in a youth-facing marketing campaign for energy drinks.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2026
Approaching a parent with love and concern instead of arguing for their treatment can help alleviate a lot of stress.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of arguing

Verb

Travelers who are considering booking one of these flights can use websites like SkyAccess, which posts available empty leg inventory for flights weeks or months in advance.

— Elliott Harrell, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026
The goalkeeping department has probably been downgraded, considering the highly promising Trafford left, and was replaced by Geronimo Rulli, a solid backup option at 34 years of age.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of considering

Verb

Greyson said nearly five decades of studying near-death experiences has convinced him there is probably something after death.

— Michael Collins, USA Today, 30 Aug. 2026
After studying hospitality in Switzerland and working in New York with chef Daniel Boulud, Kfoury returned to Lebanon, only to live through another war in 2006.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of studying

Verb

His government has consistently avoided criticizing Morocco, but Sánchez condemned comments from two Moroccan ministers questioning the sovereignty of Ceuta and Melilla, another Spain's other territory in North Africa.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026
But the design quickly sparked backlash and support online, with some applauding the farm's call for civil discourse and others questioning why Kirk was chosen as the face of one of the attraction's biggest annual draws.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of questioning

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debating

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“Debating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debating. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of debating

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