debatable

[dih-bey-tuh-buhl] / dɪˈbeɪ tə bəl /

ADJECTIVE

controversial

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arguable doubtful dubious moot problematic questionable uncertain

WEAK

between rock and hard place between sixes and sevens betwixt and between bone of contention borderline chancy contestable disputable iffy in dispute mootable open to question problematical the jury's out touch and go undecided unsettled up for discussion

Antonyms

STRONGEST

certain clear decided definite proven resolved settled sure unquestionable

WEAK

inarguable incontrovertible indubious questionable uncontestable undoubted

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The demand side of things doesn’t look debatable at this point, the analysts say.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

The product they built — Claude, where values are made explicit, debatable and revisable — is a direct expression of a team that decided honest disagreement was non-negotiable.

From MarketWatch • May 27, 2026

Whether seeing a film like this in a theater will do any more than remind audiences how little things have changed is debatable.

From Salon • Apr. 29, 2026

Julian Alvarez then equalised with a penalty after a debatable handball decision given against Ben White - more on that later.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Now the construction of Hugh’s X-ray camera was completed, and soon he hoped to get experimental evidence to settle the debatable points.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Vocabulary lists containing debatable

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