Thesaurus
debate
noun
Synonyms and Antonyms of DEBATE
1
a careful weighing of the reasons for or against something <after much debate, I decided to get the chocolate ice cream>
Related Words cogitation, contemplation, meditation, pondering, rumination; introspection; agonizing, hesitation, indecision; premeditation
Antonyms short shrift
2
variance of opinion on a matter <there was a great deal of debate over the need for cutting costs by eliminating some programs>
Synonyms contestation, controversy, debate, difference, difficulty, disputation, dispute, dissension (also dissention), dissensus, firestorm, nonconcurrence
Related Words clash, collision, conflict, confliction, disaccord, discord, dissonance; apartness, divarication, division; combat, contention, strife, struggle; altercation, argument, bicker, falling-out, fight, kickup, misunderstanding, quarrel, set-to
3
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>
Synonyms argument, argumentation, argy-bargy [chiefly British], back-and-forth, colloquy, confab, confabulation, conference, consult, consultation, council, counsel, debate, deliberation, dialogue (also dialog), give-and-take, palaver, parley, talk
Related Words bull session, chat room, forum, meeting, powwow, roundtable, seminar, skull session (also skull practice), symposium, talkathon; chat, conversation, rap, words; discourse, disquisition; bargaining, consultancy, negotiation, pourparler
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up debate[noun]? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).