debatable

adjective

de·​bat·​able di-ˈbā-tə-bəl How to pronounce debatable (audio)
dē-
Synonyms of debatablenext
1
: claimed by more than one country
debatable border territory
2
a
: open to dispute : questionable
the debatable wisdom of his advice
b
: open to debate
3
: capable of being debated
debatably
di-ˈbā-tə-blē How to pronounce debatable (audio)
dē-
adverb

Synonyms of debatable

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Examples of debatable in a Sentence

it's always debatable which college football team is really number one, since there's more than one ranking system the debatable wisdom of going back for another helping from the buffet
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are debatable details about what makes a mouthwatering Philly cheesesteak. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 6 Aug. 2026 Few deadlines offer trades this fascinating, this debatable, this multilayered. — Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Still, Fazio’s claim that the budget caps are effectively nullified is debatable, at best. — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026 When penalty calls or red cards remain debatable, people can become frustrated. — Pooya Tabesh, The Conversation, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for debatable

Word History

First Known Use

1536, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of debatable was in 1536

Rhymes for debatable

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Browse Nearby Words

débat
debatable
debate
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Cite this Entry

“Debatable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debatable. Accessed 11 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

debatable

adjective
de·​bat·​able di-ˈbāt-ə-bəl How to pronounce debatable (audio)
: open to question or dispute
a debatable decision
debatably
-blē How to pronounce debatable (audio)
adverb

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Nglish: Translation of debatable for Spanish Speakers

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