decisive

de·ci·sive

adjective \di-ˈsī-siv\

Definition of DECISIVE

1

: having the power or quality of deciding <a decisive battle>

2

: resolute, determined <a decisive manner>

3

: unmistakable, unquestionable <a decisive superiority>

— de·ci·sive·ly adverb

— de·ci·sive·ness noun

Examples of DECISIVE

1. You must be decisive and persistent to succeed in this competitive field.
2. I stood there wondering what to do, but my sister was more decisive and immediately went to the phone.
3. The fight ended with a decisive blow.
4. the decisive battle of the war
5. The poverty of his childhood played a decisive role in his adult life.
6. The meeting is seen as a decisive step toward a peace treaty.

First Known Use of DECISIVE

1611

Related to DECISIVE

Synonyms

bent (on or upon), bound, determined, do-or-die, firm, hell-bent (on or upon), intent, out, purposeful, resolute, resolved, set, single-minded

Antonyms

faltering, hesitant, indecisive, irresolute, undetermined, unresolved, vacillating, wavering, weak-kneed

Related Words

bitter, vehement; certain, cocksure, confident, positive, sure; earnest, serious; steady, unfaltering, unhesitating, unswerving, unwavering; adamant, adamantine, dogged, hard, hardened, hardheaded, headstrong, immovable, implacable, inflexible, mulish, obdurate, persistent, pertinacious, perverse, pigheaded, rigid, self-willed, stubborn, tenacious, unbending, uncompromising, unrelenting, unyielding, willful (or wilful)

Near Antonyms

distrustful, doubtful, dubious, mistrustful, skeptical, suspicious, uncertain, unconvinced, undecided, unsettled, unsure; disinclined, indisposed, loath (also loth or loathe), reluctant

See Synonym Discussion at conclusive

Rhymes with DECISIVE

derisive, incisive