a tedious debate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "a tedious debate" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a discussion or argument that is long, boring, and lacking in interest or excitement. Example: "The committee spent hours in a tedious debate over the proposed budget cuts, with little progress made."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Later, during a tedious debate, Mr. Duane fetched them two cans of Diet Coke.

The New York Times

The season-opening series sparked a tedious debate on pace-of-game procedures.

The New York Times

There is, of course, plenty of urgent discussion going on at the moment about how to better communicate the climate change message following the events of recent months, such as the hacked/stolen/leaked/[for the purposes of avoiding a tedious debate, insert your own term] UEA emails, which have caused public confidence in climate science to nose dive.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Not physical authenticity — that was wrong, that was right, a fantastically tedious debate to get into — but emotional authenticity".

The New York Times

Frankly this is a really tedious debate, since it's indefatigably cyclical.

TechCrunch

And most of all, Papo & Yo — my favorite game of the year — ended once and for all the tedious debate over whether a game can make you cry, or whether you should be ashamed if it can.

The New York Times

Democrats fought the plan during often tedious debate over the two days.

The New York Times

Why is it always about women and their parenting, or alleged lack of it, that gets center stage in the tedious debate about kids and political campaigning?

Huffington Post

Soon enough, all the tedious debate we've been subjected to since David Cameron called the EU Referendum (which he has since insisted could plunge us into war) will be over.

Vice

One of the most irritating things about the past few years of Sarah Palin's shadow has been the tedious debates over whether or not there's such a thing as a "conservative feminist," i.e., a "feminist" who opposes everything that feminists fight for, except the election of women into office.

Huffington Post

(Some writers have been calling George a "superstar" which seems to be the NBA equivalent of calling a quarterback "elite" in that it's a meaningless distinction that exists only to spur incredibly tedious debates).

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "a tedious debate" when you want to emphasize the boring and time-consuming nature of a discussion. It suggests that the debate is unproductive and lacks engaging content.

Common error

While "tedious" is a valid word, avoid overusing it, especially in formal writing. Consider using more nuanced synonyms like "monotonous", "wearisome", or "dull" to provide a richer description.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "a tedious debate" functions as a noun phrase, where "tedious" modifies the noun "debate". It describes the quality of the debate, indicating it is boring and protracted. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "a tedious debate" is a grammatically correct and usable phrase that describes a boring and unproductive discussion. While Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, it's relatively rare in occurrence. It's most commonly found in News & Media and Science contexts. When using this phrase, consider synonyms like "frustrating debate" or "protracted debate" to add nuance. Avoid overusing "tedious" in formal writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a tedious discussion

Substitutes "debate" with "discussion", indicating a less formal exchange.

a tedious conversation

Similar to "a tedious discussion", but implies an even more informal setting.

a frustrating debate

Replaces "tedious" with "frustrating", focusing on the annoyance caused by the debate.

a tedious argument

Uses "argument" instead of "debate", suggesting a more contentious exchange.

a protracted debate

Replaces "tedious" with "protracted", emphasizing the length of the debate.

a boring debate

A more direct and informal way to express the lack of interest in the debate.

a long debate

A simpler way to describe a debate that takes a lot of time and becomes boring.

a complicated debate

Highlights the complexity of the debate as the source of tedium.

a painful debate

Emphasizes the unpleasantness and discomfort associated with the debate.

a strenuous debate

Highlights the effort and energy required to engage in the debate.

FAQs

How can I replace "a tedious debate" to sound more formal?

For a more formal tone, consider using phrases like "a protracted debate", "an exhaustive discussion", or "a wearisome deliberation".

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

"A tedious debate" implies boredom and lack of progress, while "a heated debate" suggests strong emotions and disagreement.

When is it appropriate to use the phrase "a tedious debate"?

Use "a tedious debate" when you want to convey that a discussion is long, boring, and unproductive. It's suitable when the debate lacks interest or excitement.

What are some less formal alternatives to "a tedious debate"?

Less formal options include "a boring debate", "a dull discussion", or "a tiresome argument".