decide

1
2
3
4
5

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decide are determine, resolve, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When can determine be used instead of decide?

Although the words determine and decide have much in common, determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

In what contexts can resolve take the place of decide?

The synonyms resolve and decide are sometimes interchangeable, but resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

When might rule be a better fit than decide?

In some situations, the words rule and decide are roughly equivalent. However, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

When is settle a more appropriate choice than decide?

While the synonyms settle and decide are close in meaning, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decide No matter how it is eventually decided, the race to host the 2036 Olympics is already shaping up to be one of the most intriguing in recent years. Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 30 Mar. 2025 When Henry decides that Cromwell will follow Anne Boleyn to the Tower, the two men don’t face off or exchange their grievances or relive their past together. Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025 Both sides said police eventually decided no action was warranted. Adam Geller, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2025 The comedy revolves around a family restaurant where the characters must decide to keep traditional customs and dishes or ditch them for trendier meals, as the business battles financial challenges. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • Experiences Over Things In addition, luxury consumers are increasingly choosing to indulge in experiences over material goods and jewelry is caught in that crosswind too.
    Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2025
  • Wayfair has an entire pillow storefront with over 50,000 styles to choose from, including indoor/outdoor options, reversible designs, and more.
    Ali Faccenda, People.com, 23 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The amount of calories burned while sleeping can be calculated by first determining the number of calories expended per hour of the day.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Understanding financial interest and signature authority is key to determining whether a filing obligation exists.
    Virginia La Torre Jeker, J.D., Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Fran arranged a private flight for Marcos to Buenos Aires, which was also the same flight Martina was on to meet Fran as well.
    Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Following the eventful day, JGR arranged for a police escort for the return journey.
    Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The couple had eventually settled in the UAE after emigrating from Iran in the revolution’s wake.
    Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 29 Mar. 2025
  • The Warriors missed 17 of their first 20 3-pointers and never really stopped settling.
    Danny Emerman, Mercury News, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • It was not understood that the artist, through rigorous pictorial research, was aiming to chart the history of the image of female genitalia in the history of art from the classical period onward.
    Paola Ugolini, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2025
  • At least conceptually, the Giants understand that the leap from 3-14 to Super Bowl contender cannot be made in a year.
    Howard Megdal, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Moving away from her usual hairstyles, Rihanna opted for a straight midi-bob cut that curved in at the tips and rested on her shoulders.
    Teresa Romero Martínez, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2025
  • Few officials opted to talk about the rate dispute.
    Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That culminated with Richardson being the most pivotal pick of Ballard’s nine-year tenure, and if he’s judged by that selection more than all of the others, that’s what comes with the territory after not finding an answer sooner.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The whiskeys are judged on appearance, nose, taste, finish, balance, character, and complexity.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Most workers derive their greatest sense of personal accomplishment and job satisfaction from real work.
    Mark Settle, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
  • Come for the deadly mysteries, stay for the familial love triangles, abandonment issues, and fish-out-of-water comedy derived from the identity theft of an identical twin.
    Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 20 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decide

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!