as in disputed
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1
as in pondered
to give serious and careful thought to
still debating what to do
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in discussed
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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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of debated
ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Safety aspects of autonomous vehicles remain debated, but industry groups claim the technology could reduce road fatalities by removing human error from driving.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
Actor Jeff Daniels ran out of jelly one day, reached for barbecue sauce instead, and accidentally created one of the most debated sandwiches on the internet.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
That balance of a decades-old history and a new brand’s need to establish itself in its own right shapes the leadership challenge facing Strazik, who joined GE in 2000 when it was still led by Jack Welch, one of the defining — and most debated — business leaders of the 20th century.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As one of Cohen's most frequent guests on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, Rapaport has generated some of its most viral and debated moments, like a fiery 2018 spat between the actor and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
Dogs are believed to descend from ancient gray wolves, though the exact wolf populations that gave rise to them remain debated.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Seclusion and restraint The use of restraint and seclusion practices to address disabled students’ behavioral issues has increasingly become a debated issue among education specialists.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
This secular trend is welcome, but its causes remain debated.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
As the next Farm Bill is debated, will there be a call for funding food stamps to end hunger in the world’s wealthiest country?
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
While a potential ban on the tush push was debated last offseason, this year the Cleveland Browns have floated the most notable rule change.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Republicans have not accepted multiple bills that would fund the rest of DHS, including TSA, while the specifics of ICE funding is debated.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The City Council debated limiting the amount of time speakers get during public comment and digitizing sign-ups.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
The city has debated, legislated and litigated cameras in public space for decades.
—Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
On Monday and Tuesday, Sirota and the committee’s five other members debated cuts to the state’s Department of Early Childhood and to Medicaid services.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Captain Antoine Dupont debated with referee Nika Amashukeli where the penalty spots were.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Adjective
The referendum centers on long debated reforms aimed at reshaping the structure of Italy’s judiciary.
—ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026
Safety aspects of autonomous vehicles remain debated, but industry groups claim the technology could reduce road fatalities by removing human error from driving.
—Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 9 Mar. 2026
Actor Jeff Daniels ran out of jelly one day, reached for barbecue sauce instead, and accidentally created one of the most debated sandwiches on the internet.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
That balance of a decades-old history and a new brand’s need to establish itself in its own right shapes the leadership challenge facing Strazik, who joined GE in 2000 when it was still led by Jack Welch, one of the defining — and most debated — business leaders of the 20th century.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Feb. 2026
As one of Cohen's most frequent guests on his late-night talk show Watch What Happens Live, Rapaport has generated some of its most viral and debated moments, like a fiery 2018 spat between the actor and Real Housewives of Atlanta star Kenya Moore.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 22 Jan. 2026
Dogs are believed to descend from ancient gray wolves, though the exact wolf populations that gave rise to them remain debated.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Seclusion and restraint The use of restraint and seclusion practices to address disabled students’ behavioral issues has increasingly become a debated issue among education specialists.
—IndyStar, 8 Sep. 2025
This secular trend is welcome, but its causes remain debated.
—Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2025
Verb
None of those measures have become official policy, though some are still being debated in legislatures.
—William McCorkle, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
As the next Farm Bill is debated, will there be a call for funding food stamps to end hunger in the world’s wealthiest country?
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 21 Mar. 2026
While a potential ban on the tush push was debated last offseason, this year the Cleveland Browns have floated the most notable rule change.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Republicans have not accepted multiple bills that would fund the rest of DHS, including TSA, while the specifics of ICE funding is debated.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
The City Council debated limiting the amount of time speakers get during public comment and digitizing sign-ups.
—Dallas Morning News, 19 Mar. 2026
The city has debated, legislated and litigated cameras in public space for decades.
—Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
On Monday and Tuesday, Sirota and the committee’s five other members debated cuts to the state’s Department of Early Childhood and to Medicaid services.
—Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Captain Antoine Dupont debated with referee Nika Amashukeli where the penalty spots were.
—ABC News, 14 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debated
Adjective
-
The disputed ending of the AFCON tournament took another turn yesterday as Morocco was declared champions over Senegal, which was stripped of its title after walking off the pitch during the match.—
Tim Rohan,
NBC news,
18 Mar. 2026
-
One of the most disputed moments of North Carolina history centers on whether a Nazi U-boat attacked a chemical plant near Kure Beach during World War II.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Someone who has pondered such niceties is Richard Posner, a former circuit judge and a prolific legal scholar.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Lisa Nelson, executive director of the Hamline-Midway Coalition, said her board members pondered that question at length.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition, White House officials were stating publicly that Flynn and Kislyak had not discussed sanctions, which the FBI knew was untrue.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Mar. 2026
-
On March 4, the Fort Worth City Council at its work session discussed an economic development agreement which could offer Edged Data Centers a 50% break on property taxes for 10 years, in exchange for jobs and investments.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The tour cancellation is just the latest issue for the controversial toll lane project.—
Desiree Mathurin,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Compared to Stout, Herrera may be a more controversial choice for moderate voters.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Horvath previously contemplated a challenge against Bass but ultimately decided to run for reelection for a second term representing the Third Supervisorial District, which stretches from the Ventura County line to Santa Monica, and Hollywood to Sylmar and San Fernando.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In the fall, the board contemplated using money from its ​Grand V​icto​ria Riverboat Fund to pay for a similar commemorative garden project.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their growing footprint highlights shifting perceptions of Chinese goods in Western markets, Business of Fashion argued, from having once been seen as lower quality.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Under the Affordable Care Act, dental care is considered an essential health benefit for children, so health insurance plans on the individual marketplace must offer dental coverage for those 18 or younger.—
Blake Farmer,
Miami Herald,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The White House had considered putting the statue on the South Lawn, The Washington Post reported in February.—
Dan Diamond,
Arkansas Online,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Rollins, a lawyer who studied agricultural development, co-founded the pro-Trump America First Policy Institute before being tapped to head the agency.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
The combination is expected to deliver a unique testing environment where solar power, batteries, as well as hydrogen production can be studied together.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Debated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debated. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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