This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn more

Debate synonyms

Sorting by
Votes
argumentation
Deductive reasoning in debate.
1
0
  1. Deductive reasoning in debate.
  2. The presentation and elaboration of an argument or arguments.
  3. The process of arriving at reasons and conclusions; arguing or reasoning
contest
A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals:
0
0
  1. A struggle for superiority or victory between rivals:
  2. A fight, struggle, conflict, or controversy
  3. Any race, game, debate, etc. in which individuals or teams compete with one another to determine the winner
match
Two or more persons or things that go together in appearance, size, or other quality
0
0
  1. Two or more persons or things that go together in appearance, size, or other quality
  2. A pair, each one of which resembles or harmonizes with the other:
  3. A slender piece of wood, cardboard, waxed cord, etc. tipped with a composition that catches fire by friction; esp., a safety match
disputation
The act of disputing; debate.
0
0
  1. The act of disputing; debate.
  2. An academic exercise consisting of a formal debate or an oral defense of a thesis.
  3. Discussion marked by formal debate, often as an exercise
polemics
Plural form of polemic
0
0
  1. Plural form of polemic
  2. The practice of theological controversy to refute errors of doctrine.
  3. The art or practice of making arguments or controversies
forensics
Forensic science
0
0
  1. Forensic science
  2. The study of formal debate; rhetoric
  3. The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of law.
dialectic
The process especially associated with Hegel of arriving at the truth by stating a thesis, developing a contradictory antithesis, and combining and resolving them into a coherent synthesis.
0
0
  1. The process especially associated with Hegel of arriving at the truth by stating a thesis, developing a contradictory antithesis, and combining and resolving them into a coherent synthesis.
  2. The method of logic used by Hegel and adapted by Marx to observable social and economic processes: it is based on the principle that an idea or event (thesis) generates its opposite (antithesis), leading to a reconciliation of opposites (synthesis)
  3. The art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer, so as to determine their validity
deliberation
The act or process of deliberating.
0
0
  1. The act or process of deliberating.
  2. A deliberating, or considering carefully
  3. Consideration and discussion of alternatives before reaching a decision
argue
To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons:
0
0
  1. To persuade or influence (another), as by presenting reasons:
  2. To try to prove by giving reasons; maintain; contend
  3. To put forth reasons for or against something:
discuss
To talk or write about; take up in conversation or in a discourse; consider and argue the pros and cons of
0
0
  1. To talk or write about; take up in conversation or in a discourse; consider and argue the pros and cons of
  2. To examine or consider a subject in speech or writing.
  3. To speak with another or others about something:
confute
(Obs.) To make useless
0
0
  1. (Obs.) To make useless
  2. To prove to be wrong or in error; refute decisively.
  3. To prove (a person, statement, etc.) to be in error or false; overcome by argument or proof
refute
To deny the truth or validity of
0
0
  1. To deny the truth or validity of
  2. To prove (an argument or statement) to be false or wrong, by argument or evidence
  3. To prove (a person) to be wrong; confute
controvert
To raise arguments against; voice opposition to.
0
0
  1. To raise arguments against; voice opposition to.
  2. To argue about; debate; discuss
  3. To argue or reason against; contradict; deny; dispute
oppose
To contend with in speech or action; resist; withstand
0
0
  1. To contend with in speech or action; resist; withstand
  2. To set as an opposite in position:
  3. To present in counterbalance or contrast:
question
To interrogate (a suspect, for example).
0
0
  1. To interrogate (a suspect, for example).
  2. To pose a question or questions regarding (something); analyze or examine:
  3. To ask a question or questions
contend
To strive in combat; fight
0
0
  1. To strive in combat; fight
  2. To strive in debate or controversy; dispute
  3. To hold to be a fact; assert
contest
To fight for (ground, a military position, etc.); struggle to win or keep
0
0
  1. To fight for (ground, a military position, etc.); struggle to win or keep
  2. To try to disprove or invalidate (something) as by argument or legal action; dispute
  3. To call into question and take an active stand against; dispute or challenge:
reason
(Obsolete) To engage in conversation or discussion.
0
0
  1. (Obsolete) To engage in conversation or discussion.
  2. To talk or argue logically and persuasively:
  3. To use the faculty of reason; think logically:
wrangle
To argue; dispute
0
0
  1. To argue; dispute
  2. To manage or control (something, especially an animal), as on a movie set:
  3. To argue (a person) into or out of something
answer
To be liable or accountable:
0
0
  1. To be liable or accountable:
  2. To be responsible or liable (to a person for an action, accusation, etc.)
  3. To speak or write in response to:
ponder
To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care.
0
0
  1. To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care.
  2. To think about (something) with thoroughness and care.
  3. To weigh mentally; think deeply about; consider carefully
weigh
To be burdensome or oppressive. Used with on or upon:
0
0
  1. To be burdensome or oppressive. Used with on or upon:
  2. To consider and choose carefully
  3. To balance or ponder in the mind; consider in order to make a choice
differ
(Obsolete) To quarrel; dispute.
0
0
  1. (Obsolete) To quarrel; dispute.
  2. To be of a different opinion; disagree:
  3. To be dissimilar or unlike in nature, quality, amount, or form:
dispute
To engage in discussion or argument; debate.
0
0
  1. To engage in discussion or argument; debate.
  2. To argue; debate
  3. To argue or debate (a question); discuss pro and con
jaw
To talk; converse.
0
0
  1. To talk; converse.
  2. (Slang) To talk, esp. in a boring or abusive way
  3. Either of two bony or cartilaginous structures that in most vertebrate animals form the framework of the mouth, hold the teeth, and are used for biting and chewing food. The lower, movable part of the jaw is the mandible. The upper, fixed part is the maxilla.
moot
To discuss or debate:
0
0
  1. To discuss or debate:
  2. To render (a subject or issue) irrelevant:
  3. To render (a legal issue or question) irrelevant.
bandy
To pass (gossip, rumor, etc.) about freely and carelessly
0
0
  1. To pass (gossip, rumor, etc.) about freely and carelessly
  2. To give and receive (words, for example); exchange:
  3. To give and take; specif., to exchange (words) in an angry or argumentative manner
argue
To give reasons for and against; discuss; debate
0
0
  1. To give reasons for and against; discuss; debate
  2. To put forth reasons for or against something:
  3. To have a disagreement; quarrel; dispute
contend
To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle:
0
0
  1. To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle:
  2. To hold to be a fact; assert
  3. To strive in debate or controversy; dispute
dispute
To argue or debate (a question); discuss pro and con
0
0
  1. To argue or debate (a question); discuss pro and con
  2. To engage in discussion or argument; debate.
  3. To argue; debate
moot
To propose or bring up for discussion or debate
0
0
  1. To propose or bring up for discussion or debate
  2. To render (a legal issue or question) irrelevant.
  3. To render (a subject or issue) irrelevant:
altercation
A vehement quarrel.
0
0
  1. A vehement quarrel.
  2. An angry or heated argument
argument
A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.
0
0
  1. A set of statements in which one follows logically as a conclusion from the others.
  2. (--- Archaic) A reason or matter for dispute or contention:
  3. (Linguistics) A word, phrase, or clause in a semantic relation with a word or phrase and that helps complete the meaning of that word or phrase, such as a noun phrase that is the object of a verb. The clause that we go is an argument of the verb suggest in the sentence I suggest that we go.
bicker
(Archaic) A skirmish or quarrel
0
0
  1. (Archaic) A skirmish or quarrel
  2. An angry quarrel; a squabble.
  3. A small wooden vessel made of staves and hoops, like a tub.
clash
A violent conflict or confrontation.
0
0
  1. A violent conflict or confrontation.
  2. A sharp disagreement; conflict
  3. A loud, harsh noise, such as that made by two metal objects in collision.
contention
A striving to win in competition; rivalry:
0
0
  1. A striving to win in competition; rivalry:
  2. A statement or point that one argues for as true or valid
  3. The act of contending; strife, struggle, controversy, dispute, quarrel, etc.
controversy
A difference in views, especially in public, between individuals taking opposite sides on a particular issue.
0
0
  1. A difference in views, especially in public, between individuals taking opposite sides on a particular issue.
  2. The act or practice of engaging in such disputes:
  3. In constitutional law, an actual, definite, and concrete dispute over legal rights between parties with adverse interests wherein one party is seeking an adjudication of the dispute and specific relief of a conclusive nature. Also called case or controversy requirement. See also adversary proceeding.
difficulty
A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs:
0
0
  1. A troublesome or embarrassing state of affairs, especially of financial affairs:
  2. The condition or quality of being difficult:
  3. Something not easily done, accomplished, comprehended, or solved:
disagreement
Refusal to agree or comply
0
0
  1. Refusal to agree or comply
  2. Failure to agree; difference; incongruity; discrepancy
  3. A quarrel or dispute
dispute
(Obs.) A fight
0
0
  1. (Obs.) A fight
  2. A verbal controversy; a debate.
  3. A disputing; argument; debate
fight
Power or readiness to fight; pugnacious spirit
0
0
  1. Power or readiness to fight; pugnacious spirit
  2. A confrontation between opposing groups in which each attempts to harm or gain power over the other, as with bodily force or weapons.
  3. A quarrel or conflict:
polemic
A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.
0
0
  1. A controversial argument, especially one refuting or attacking a specific opinion or doctrine.
  2. An argument or controversial discussion
  3. A person engaged in or inclined to controversy, argument, or refutation.
quarrel
A reason for a dispute or argument:
0
0
  1. A reason for a dispute or argument:
  2. An angry dispute; an altercation.
  3. A dispute or disagreement, esp. one marked by anger and deep resentment
run-in
A quarrel or argument.
0
0
  1. A quarrel or argument.
  2. An encounter; a scrape or brush; especially one involving trouble or difficulty.
  3. (Informal) A quarrel, fight, etc.
spat
(Informal) A brief, petty quarrel or dispute
0
0
  1. (Informal) A brief, petty quarrel or dispute
  2. A gaiterlike covering for the instep and ankle, usually of heavy cloth
  3. A larva of an oyster or similar bivalve that has settled by attaching to a surface.
squabble
A noisy, petty quarrel or dispute; wrangle
0
0
  1. A noisy, petty quarrel or dispute; wrangle
  2. A noisy quarrel, often about a trivial matter.
.tiff
A petty quarrel.
0
0
  1. A petty quarrel.
  2. A slight quarrel; spat
  3. A little drink of weak liquor or punch
word
A speech sound, or series of such sounds, serving to communicate meaning and consisting of at least one base morpheme with or without prefixes or suffixes; unit of language between the morpheme and the sentence
0
0
  1. A speech sound, or series of such sounds, serving to communicate meaning and consisting of at least one base morpheme with or without prefixes or suffixes; unit of language between the morpheme and the sentence
  2. A command or direction; an order:
  3. An assurance or promise; sworn intention:
wrangle
The act of wrangling.
0
0
  1. The act of wrangling.
  2. An angry, noisy argument or dispute.
hassle
A troublesome situation
0
0
  1. A troublesome situation
  2. Trouble; bother.
  3. An argument or a fight.
rhubarb
Any of a genus (Rheum) of perennial, large-leaved plants of the buckwheat family; esp., the domestic pieplant (R. rhaponticum), having large, cordate leaf blades borne on long, thick stalks: the stalks are cooked into a sauce or baked in pies, but the blades are poisonous
0
0
  1. Any of a genus (Rheum) of perennial, large-leaved plants of the buckwheat family; esp., the domestic pieplant (R. rhaponticum), having large, cordate leaf blades borne on long, thick stalks: the stalks are cooked into a sauce or baked in pies, but the blades are poisonous
  2. A preparation made from the dried rhizomes and roots of any of several plants of the genus Rheum, especially R. palmatum or R. officinale of East Asia, used as a laxative.
  3. (Informal) A quarrel, fight, or heated discussion.
tangle
(Informal) An argument or altercation.
0
0
  1. (Informal) An argument or altercation.
  2. An intertwisted, confused mass of things, as string, branches, etc.; snarl
  3. (Informal) A fight, quarrel, or argument
argumentation
The presentation and elaboration of an argument or arguments.
0
0
  1. The presentation and elaboration of an argument or arguments.
  2. Discussion in which there is disagreement; debate
  3. Deductive reasoning in debate.
disputation
An academic exercise consisting of a formal debate or an oral defense of a thesis.
0
0
  1. An academic exercise consisting of a formal debate or an oral defense of a thesis.
  2. The act of disputing; debate.
  3. Discussion marked by formal debate, often as an exercise
forensics
The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of law.
0
0
  1. The use of science and technology to investigate and establish facts in criminal or civil courts of law.
  2. Forensic science
  3. The art or study of formal debate; argumentation.
Find another word for debate. In this page you can discover 72 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for debate, like: argumentation, argue, contest, match, disputation, polemics, forensics, dialectic, deliberation, argue and discuss.

Sentence Examples

  • See you at the debate tomorrow.

  • And that debate ended overnight.

  • This debate business was no problem when I didn't have an opponent.

  • It's not a debate or anything.

  • Alex, I don't want to debate this issue.

More sentences →

Related Articles

More Articles →

Words that mention debate in the Dictionary

Words near debate in the Thesaurus