as in defendants
a person who takes part in a dispute
the debater was unable to come up with a convincing rebuttal for his opponent's argument
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of debaters
High school debaters are much more polite and reasonable, even compared to presidential candidates, the group’s president, Walt Breitinger, observed.
—
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Judging simply by the crowd’s response, the debaters arguing that CSOs remain relevant won handily.
—Justin Worland, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Dylan Black, a SDA freshman who took the pilot course this year, said the class allowed students to learn more about each other and also become better debaters and thinkers.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The fraud debaters offer many preferred litmus tests.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
The college boys would gather around a charpoy set in front of the food stall, playing for cups of tea or plates of biscuits, contemplating the next move with the seriousness of parliamentary debaters, discussing strategy.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 17 Mar. 2026
Judging simply by the crowd’s response, the debaters arguing that CSOs remain relevant won handily.
—Justin Worland, Time, 20 Feb. 2026
Dylan Black, a SDA freshman who took the pilot course this year, said the class allowed students to learn more about each other and also become better debaters and thinkers.
—Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Jan. 2026
The fraud debaters offer many preferred litmus tests.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Dec. 2025
The college boys would gather around a charpoy set in front of the food stall, playing for cups of tea or plates of biscuits, contemplating the next move with the seriousness of parliamentary debaters, discussing strategy.
—Daniyal Mueenuddin, New Yorker, 23 Nov. 2025
Her debaters warned of a slippery slope.
—Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debaters
Noun
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Both defendants have a status hearing Thursday morning in New Orleans and both were ordered to surrender their passports.—
Patrick Smith,
NBC news,
30 Apr. 2026
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Duffy said the trial, which included 11 defendants and 360 counts, took place over more than five months, ending with a marathon, month-long jury deliberation.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Illinois Supreme Court’s Democratic majority wrote in April 2025 that the plaintiffs waited too long to contest the maps drawn in 2021, but did not address arguments of unconstitutional gerrymandering.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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In February, the city banded with more than a dozen other cities and counties to become additional plaintiffs in an existing lawsuit filed last summer by a group led by Fresno, California.—
Emma Hurt,
AJC.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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What about those fighters grants them the respect of a great like you?—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Ukrainian estimates cited in the report say at least 3,388 foreign fighters have been killed, with some estimates suggesting one in five recruits may not survive deployment.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Since the show eliminated a rule prohibiting contestants from winning more than five consecutive games, 20 players have won 10 or more games in a row, including Jamie Ding, the current returning champion.—
Jessica Sager,
PEOPLE,
26 Apr. 2026
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Six contestants will be forced to stay awake for 48 hours while enduring intense and nonstop challenges.—
Scott Huver,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
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And advocates can challenge the EPA’s decision-making.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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But advocates for the workers say foreign worker status, and Israel’s increasing reliance on foreign workers, creates conditions that are ripe for abuse.—
Theia Chatelle,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The episodes saw 12 brawlers face off in teams led by Flay, Maneet Chauhan and Antonia Lofaso, aiming to win over judges Williamson, Carson Kressley and Rodney Scott.—
Erin Clements,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Displacing the ’90s boom bap and aughts brawlers of her last album is a streak of assiduous ’80s R&B exercises that foreground her gains as a vocalist more often than her gobstopping wordplay as a rapper.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Debaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debaters. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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