debaters

noun

plural of debater
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

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.
Recent Examples of debaters Research has previously shown that AI models can be extremely persuasive, more so than even the best human salespeople or debaters. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 25 Aug. 2026 Personal laptops allow debaters to research, organize evidence and prepare for tournaments during free periods. — Kavin Bendre, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The debaters themselves hold the incentive to say extreme statements to become a viral clip as well. — Vriti Shah, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 July 2026 Habitual debaters often blur these distinctions. — Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 27 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for debaters
  1. defendants
  2. plaintiffs
  3. fighters
  4. contestants
  5. advocates
  6. brawlers
Noun
  • The defendants’ decision not to question a witness did not amount to carrying out the agreements, the government argued, because the agreements did not require that action and the defendants had not withdrawn their pending motions.
    — Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Under Schrama's 11-page order, Mohammed and three co-defendants — Walid Muhammad Salih Mubarak bin 'Atash, Mustafa Ahmed Adam al Hawsawi, and Ali Abdul Aziz Ali — will stand trial starting on June 5, 2028.
    — Steve Gorman, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of defendants
Noun
  • Vetting plaintiffs Hanaway said that her office reached out to Cacioppo after a referral from local business associations.
    — Jack Harvel August 26, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026
  • In earlier testimony at the Oakland trial, Francesco Fogu, Instagram’s director of product design, had contentious exchanges with the plaintiffs’ lawyer over internal chats and documents shown to the jury.
    — Barbara Ortutay, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of plaintiffs
Noun
  • Kurdish civilians as well as SDF fighters were pushed out of areas seized in the offensive, although some of the displaced have now begun to return.
    — Hogir al Abdo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The International Crisis Group estimates that some 5,000 foreign fighters remain under arms inside state forces.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fighters
Noun
  • Failure to comply with the rules would result in disqualification for contestants.
    — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • There are two more groups of contestants in the next round, followed by a semifinals round, and then the finals.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of contestants
Noun
  • Following the fatal crashes, transit advocates called on New Yorkers to vote in November on Ballot Question 3, which would expedite the review process for small infrastructure and safe street projects.
    — Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Every September, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, advocates ask Americans to wear gold in recognition of the children and families affected by cancer.
    — Jason Collins, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of advocates
Noun
  • 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
  • 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
Definition of brawlers

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Cite this Entry

“Debaters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/debaters. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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