Meaning & use
heated discussion
Last updated
UK/ˌhiːtɪd dɪˈskʌʃn/
US/ˌhiːtɪd dɪˈskʌʃən/
Meaning
nouncountable
A conversation in which people strongly disagree and may become angry.
Grammar: Countable; you can say 'a heated discussion' or 'heated discussions'.
Patterns
- have a heated discussion
- a heated discussion about something
- a heated discussion with someone
The neighbors had a heated discussion about the noise.
We got into a heated discussion over politics.
After a heated discussion, they finally agreed.
Word forms
| plural | heated discussions |
|---|
Common combinations
- have a heated discussion
- They had a heated discussion about the budget.
- get into a heated discussion
- Don't get into a heated discussion with him; he never listens.
- a heated discussion about
- There was a heated discussion about the new rules.
- a heated discussion with
- She had a heated discussion with her boss.
Synonyms and how they differ
- argument
- Stronger and more negative; it suggests anger and often a fight.
- debate
- More formal and organized; it does not imply anger.
- dispute
- A disagreement, often official or legal, not necessarily loud.
Opposites
calm discussionfriendly chat
Word family
- heat noun
- The quality of being hot; also strong feeling or anger.
- heatedly adverb
- In an angry or excited way.
Commonly confused: heated discussion or heated debate?
heated discussion vs heated debate
Similar, but 'debate' is usually more formal and structured, while 'discussion' is more general.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'heated discussion' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The preposition 'about' is used to introduce the topic of a discussion. 'On' is possible but less common; 'for' and 'to' do not fit here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “heated discussion”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.
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