moot point
Why argue now?
A moot point is one that is debatable or open to question, though in American usage it has come to mean the opposite: a point that is no longer worth discussing because it has been settled or rendered irrelevant by circumstances.
Whether we should have left earlier is a moot point now—we missed the flight.
The shift happened because in law, moot courts argue hypothetical cases with no real consequence, making the issues academic rather than urgent.
Relating to education or theory
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- nugatoryWithout worth or effect
- superfluousExceeding what suffices
water under the bridge · settled · resolved · decided · bygone · obsolete · outdated · fait accompli
Open to dispute
- disputableAble to be challenged
- contestableAble to be challenged
- controversialCausing public dispute
- unsettledNot yet resolved
questionable · undecided · unresolved · contentious · open question · two sides · gray area · matter of opinion
academic
Relating to education or theory
- immaterialLacking physical form; unimportant
- inconsequentialLacking significance or impact
- nugatoryWithout worth or effect
superfluous · water under the bridge · settled · resolved · decided · bygone · obsolete · outdated · fait accompli
arguable
Open to dispute
- disputableAble to be challenged
- contestableAble to be challenged
- controversialCausing public dispute
unsettled · questionable · undecided · unresolved · contentious · open question · two sides · gray area · matter of opinion · inconclusive
- futile argumentsbeating dead horse, going in circles, dead end, lost cause, brick wall
- Mangled Idiomsrocket surgery, for all intensive purposes
- disputesbeef, bicker, clash, conflict, dispute
- distractionsdistraction, digression, tangent, sidetrack, diversion
- futilityfutile, futility, in vain, pointlessness, vain
moot pointurgent matter
burning question · hot-button issue · matter at hand · bread-and-butter issue · salient point
pointed, argument, appoint, points, pointer, pointless, disappoint, moot, appointment