a spirited debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a spirited debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a lively and energetic discussion or argument about a particular topic. Example: "The town hall meeting turned into a spirited debate about the new zoning laws, with residents passionately expressing their opinions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

This was a spirited debate, though not a suspenseful one.

The New Yorker

But a spirited debate about etiquette has broken out.

The New York Times

The first half of his response ("I don't discriminate") is the subject of a spirited debate.

The New York Times

More than anything else, he relishes a spirited debate with worthy adversaries.

The Economist

In recent months, a spirited debate has arisen over whether the Pres.

The New Yorker

People can obviously have a spirited debate about cause and effect here.

The New York Times

The e-mail message provoked a spirited debate in Ms. Fleurimond's circle.

The New York Times

Lawmakers coming out of the caucus meeting Friday said they had had a spirited debate.

The New York Times

A spirited debate has broken out behind the scenes in Washington over this approach.

The New York Times

The result has been a spirited debate about what physicists can expect from their theories.

The New York Times - Science

The students had a spirited debate over whether to pay $15 to send a child on a school field trip.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a spirited debate" to describe discussions where participants are actively and enthusiastically engaged, presenting strong arguments and counterarguments. It implies more than just a casual conversation.

Common error

Avoid using "a spirited debate" in highly formal or academic writing where a more neutral term like "discussion" or "exchange of views" might be more appropriate. The word "spirited" can sometimes be perceived as informal.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a spirited debate" functions as a noun phrase, where "spirited" modifies the noun "debate". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in describing a discussion filled with energy and strong opinions, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

98%

Formal & Business

1%

Science

1%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a spirited debate" is a commonly used and grammatically sound phrase that describes an energetic and enthusiastic discussion. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is most frequently found in news and media contexts, denoting a lively exchange of viewpoints. While appropriate for general use, be mindful of the tone; more formal settings may benefit from substituting phrases such as "a robust discussion". Remember, employing "a spirited debate" effectively means capturing a dynamic exchange of ideas, not merely a simple conversation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a vigorous debate

Synonymous substitution to emphasize the strong and active nature of the debate.

an energetic discussion

Highlights the energy and enthusiasm by using "energetic" instead of "spirited".

a lively discussion

Replaces "debate" with "discussion" for a less confrontational tone and "spirited" with "lively" for a similar energetic feel.

a passionate discussion

Emphasizes the emotional intensity of the discussion by using "passionate" instead of "spirited".

a robust discussion

Substitutes "spirited" with "robust" indicating a strong and healthy exchange of ideas.

an animated argument

Substitutes "debate" with "argument" to highlight potential disagreement, and "spirited" with "animated" emphasizing the energy of the exchange.

a feisty discussion

Conveys a sense of boldness and eagerness in the discussion using "feisty" instead of "spirited".

a heated argument

Highlights the intensity and potential conflict by using "heated" instead of "spirited" and "argument" instead of "debate".

a vigorous exchange of views

Replaces "debate" with a more formal "exchange of views" and "spirited" with "vigorous" to convey intensity.

a dynamic exchange

Focuses on the energy and interaction by using "dynamic" instead of "spirited" and "exchange" instead of "debate".

FAQs

How to use "a spirited debate" in a sentence?

You can use "a spirited debate" to describe a discussion characterized by energy and strong opinions. For example, "The proposal sparked "a spirited debate" among the committee members".

What can I say instead of "a spirited debate"?

You can use alternatives like "a lively discussion", "an animated argument", or "a vigorous exchange of views" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "a spirited debate" and "a heated argument"?

"A spirited debate" implies energy and enthusiasm, while "a heated argument" suggests anger and strong disagreement. The former is more about the exchange of ideas, the latter about conflict.

Is "a spirited debate" suitable for formal writing?

While generally acceptable, in highly formal contexts, consider alternatives like "a robust discussion" or "a vigorous exchange of views" which may be perceived as more neutral and professional.