1
as in to lay
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to arrange
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
7
as in to compose
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
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8
9
10
as in to determine
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of settle
India tried to settle in as the season progressed.
—
Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
The animals mostly settled on the metal casings rather than the explosive material, likely reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The transfer of ownership was settled in July and the total purchase price was $460,000, $613 per square foot.
—Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
But former Biden-era FTC commissioners have raised concerns about the FTC’s decision to settle rather than go to trial.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for settle
Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2025
The animals mostly settled on the metal casings rather than the explosive material, likely reducing their exposure to harmful chemicals.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
The transfer of ownership was settled in July and the total purchase price was $460,000, $613 per square foot.
—Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
But former Biden-era FTC commissioners have raised concerns about the FTC’s decision to settle rather than go to trial.
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
Verb
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Right-back Kayode then laid the ball off to midfield colleague Yehor Yarmolyuk, who flighted a pass down the right channel between Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire, two of United’s back three.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The shooting in Columbia laid bare simmering disputes across the country over gun violence at or near college campuses, major travel destinations for fans, alumni and parents of students.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The project alternates between details of everyday life—imbued with a surreal, universal quality—and delicate, melancholic landscapes alongside portraits of figures suspended in time, inhabiting their own oneiric world.—
Caterina De Biasio,
Vogue,
24 Sep. 2025
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The team that inhabits it is often called inevitable — immune to pressure and impossible to put away.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The fun begins as the other housewives arrive, unaware that the studio has decided to stage a role-playing scenario to test their readiness.—
Peter Larsen,
Oc Register,
27 Sep. 2025
-
After Xaverian missed a go-ahead 36-yard field goal attempt to end the third, Staine decided to begin the fourth and final quarter with one of his signature Hail Mary shots.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sonar revealed ancient relics along the sea floor, including a series of colossal structures standing 20 feet high and arranged in rows, as well as several anchors and amphora.—
Jennifer Ouellette,
ArsTechnica,
24 Sep. 2025
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But Bradley’s not super bothered, because her informant has messaged her and arranged a meeting in Central Park.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The middle aisle is restocked with home goods, organizers, candles, cleaning gadgets, even clothing and shoes, and new ALDI food items are stocked on the shelves, perched and ready for the deals to be snapped up by customers.—
Rebecca Jones,
Southern Living,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Burnett perched in a director’s chair beneath a portable ring light.—
Rachel Syme,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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But before sending it in, Matthew lodged one request.—
Andrea Mandell,
PEOPLE,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Bits of the ceramic plate from his ballistic vest were lodged into his chest.—
Claire Harbage,
NPR,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Stage two would see Gaza governed by a temporary transitional body consisting of a technocratic, apolitical committee composed of Palestinians and international members.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
30 Sep. 2025
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This assertion that Mary was a child of a well-to-do family might have some historical validity since this text was composed at a time when the poverty and celibacy of the Holy Family had become associated with her nunlike virtue.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The federal government is hurtling toward a possible shutdown at a delicate moment for the nation's economy, as a hiring slowdown stokes recession fears and inflation proves difficult to fully contain.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
30 Sep. 2025
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This story contains mention of domestic violence.—
Noe Padilla,
IndyStar,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
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