The war on Iraq is a volatile subject of political debate; any wrong word and a heated argument could spark.
Source: tatoeba (1936)
Debate
/dɪˈbeɪt/
Synonyms for "debate" (363 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (73)
Noun(16 words)
argumentagonarguearguingargumentationargumentsbuttcanvasingchateuraclass discussion energy exchangecolloquiumscommunal decision making processconfrontationcontentioncontestcontests
Adjective(1 words)
academic dissent
addressafter-dinner speechagitateairairingallocutionaltercationanalysisanalyzeapplicationargueargumentargumentationaskattentionback downbalancebe abstractedbickeringbrood
Show 27 more words
buzz sessioncanvasscanvassingcat-and-dog lifechalk talkchew the cudclamorcloturecogitationcolloquiumcombatcomment uponcommittee considerationconcentrationconcertconferconferenceconflictconsiderconsiderationcontemplatecontemplationcontendcontentioncontentiousnesscontestcontestation
Strong matches (109)
Noun(29 words)
controversycontrovertconversationcut and thrustdeal withdebatingdeclaimdeclamationdeliberatedeliberate upondeliberationdemagoguedemurdialecticdialoguediatribedifferdigestdisagreedisagreement
Show 42 more words
disceptdiscourse aboutdiscussdiscussiondisputationdisputedivisionelocuteenmityeulogyexaminationexamineexchange of viewsexchange viewsexhortationexpostulatefalterfearfightfightingfilibusterfilibusteringfilingfirst readingforensicforensic addressformal speechforumfuneral orationgo intohandlehang backharangueheedhem and hawhesitatehold forthhortatory addresshostilityhoverhum and hawinaugural
Verb(16 words)
controvertsdeliberatedeliberateddeliberatesdiffer in opiniondiffereddisagreesdiscordeddiscourseddiscuss in classdiscusseddiscussesdoubteddueledexploresfence
Adjective(2 words)
deliberate changedeliberate decision
Related words (181)
inaugural addressintroductionintrospectinvectiveinvestigateinvestigationjeremiadjibjoint discussionkilkenny catsknockknock aroundlitigationlogical analysislogical discussionlogomachylogrollingmeditatemeditationmoot
Show 122 more words
mouthmull overmuseopen discussionopen forumorateorationout-herod herodpanel discussionpaper warpass under reviewpausepep talkperorateperorationperpendphilippicpitchplay around withplay withpolemicponderponder overprepared speechprepared textpro and conpublic speechpull backquarrelquarrelingquarrelsomenessquestionrabble-rouserantraprap sessionreadreadingreasonreason aboutreason the pointrecitalrecitationrecitereflectreflectionrefutingretreatreviewrodomontaderoll callruminateruminate oversales talksalutatorysalutatory addresssayscrappingscreedscruplesecond readingseminarset speechshilly shallyshilly-shallyshysiftspeculatespeechspeechificationspeechingspielspoutsquabblingsteamroller methodsstick atsticklestop to considerstraddle the fencestrainstrain atstrifestrugglestudysymposiumtablingtake uptalktalk abouttalk oftalk overtalkathonthink overthink throughthink twicethink twice aboutthird readingthrash outthresh outtiradetosstown meetingtoy withtreattreatmenttub-thumpvaledictionvaledictoryvaledictory addressvarianceventilateventilationvotewarwar of wordswarfareweighwithdrawwordswranglewranglingyield
Noun(22 words)
Verb(12 words)
Adjective(5 words)
minor disagreementpolitical argumentpolitical eventpublic disagreementverbal dispute
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: argument, academic dissent, address, after-dinner speech, agitate.
- Sentence evidence is available for debate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "debate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "debate"
Keep "debate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "debate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "debate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "debate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesargueconflictconsiderconversedeliberatedisagreementdiscoursediscussdiscussiongive-and-takehash outmootoral presentationpublic speaking
Showing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
9 entriesclassroom debateclassroom disputeinformational debatelegal disputemock debatepanel debatepolicy debatepolicy disputeresearch dispute
Collocations
9 entriesacademic debateclassroom debatedebate clubdebate formatdebate skillsdebate topicheated debatepolicy debatepublic debate
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
4 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
25 total sentences available.
Your decision is open to some debate.
Source: tatoeba (17249)
Teachers stimulate the students' interest, have them think, ask questions, and debate among themselves.
Source: tatoeba (19059)
I beat him completely in the debate.
Source: tatoeba (21088)
Showing 4 of 25 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "debate"?
Closest matches include argument, academic dissent, address, after-dinner speech, agitate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "debate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.