1
as in questionable
open to question or dispute
it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disputable
giving good reason for being doubted, questioned, or challenged
the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet
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Recent Examples of debatable
While the accuracy of this claim is debatable, scientists and benchmarking organizations such as Model Evaluation and Threat Research seem to support it.
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Charles Towers-Clark, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
At 32, Jones finds herself to overweight (though that’s debatable), in a dead end job, and running short on romantic options.
—Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024
Moreover, comedies—which The Bear claims to be, though that’s debatable—generally perform better than dramas in the binge model.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 27 June 2024
While the argument over what constitutes an exceptional Dragon Ball Z game is debatable, what’s undeniable is the enduring popularity of the franchise in the gaming zeitgeist.
—Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debatable 
Charles Towers-Clark, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
At 32, Jones finds herself to overweight (though that’s debatable), in a dead end job, and running short on romantic options.
—Vogue, 10 Sep. 2024
Moreover, comedies—which The Bear claims to be, though that’s debatable—generally perform better than dramas in the binge model.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 27 June 2024
While the argument over what constitutes an exceptional Dragon Ball Z game is debatable, what’s undeniable is the enduring popularity of the franchise in the gaming zeitgeist.
—Isaiah Colbert, Rolling Stone, 9 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for debatable
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debatable
Adjective
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My main goal was to save the questionable, fragile relationship, whatever the cost.Taylor Eff, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
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Her Twitter feed contains questionable information, to put it nicely, on a wide range of topics, including vaccines and immigrants.Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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With a popular-vote victory in hand, returning to Washington having previously served as president, and not under the sort of dubious investigation that dogged him in 2017, Trump ought to be better able to navigate the existing structures of our Constitution.The Editors, National Review, 22 Nov. 2024
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Trump has promised to deport 11 million people, mostly to Latin America — though experts are dubious that such a feat is even feasible.New York Times, New York Times, 3 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Lanthimos is many things — a champion absurdist, an arguable nihilist, an occasional edgelord, and an artist who has maintained a decidedly Euro sensibility despite having worked in English with Hollywood actors since 2015.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2024
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Under this standard, the Dolphins would at least have an arguable case that preventing him from playing would not be an ADA violation.Chris Deubert, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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But golden mussels could be particularly problematic for water infrastructure and the Delta’s ecosystem if the species spreads and flourishes, said Andrew Rypel, a professor of fish ecology and director of UC Davis’ Center for Watershed Sciences.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2024
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Evaluating these systems, researchers found a high benchmark for staying focused on tasks and weeding out potentially problematic inputs.John Werner, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Now their long-term future in the Tampa Bay region is doubtful, as well.Matt Robison, Newsweek, 20 Nov. 2024
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For the entire 90 minutes before the live performance portrayed in Saturday Night, Michaels faces the worry that the show won't be ready to go to air between a battling cast, production mishaps and doubtful network executives.Rebecca Aizin, People.com, 12 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Asked at a press conference whether suspicious activity was possible, officials said there's not been any evidence of foul play.Connor Giffin, The Courier-Journal, 22 Nov. 2024
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Detectives don't believe the community is in danger, but asked anyone who sees suspicious activity or has information about this morning's robbery to call 911.Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 21 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debatable. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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