n. 1 discussion, argument, dispute, altercation, controversy, wrangle, contention, polemic; argumentation I refuse to take sides in the debate over social services 2 deliberation, consideration, (careful) thought, reflection, cogitation, meditation, contemplation Payment of reparations to the victims of the disaster is a matter for debate
v. 3 argue, wrangle, dispute, contest, contend; discuss, moot, question We debated only the most important issues 4 deliberate, consider, reflect (on), mull over, ponder (over), weigh, ruminate (over), meditate (on or over), think (over or on), think through I have often debated in my own mind the question of capital punishment