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

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2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants the region was originally settled by farmers

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3
4
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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6
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8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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9
10
11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb settle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of settle are decide, determine, resolve, and rule. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

When might decide be a better fit than settle?

While in some cases nearly identical to settle, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When is it sensible to use determine instead of settle?

The words determine and settle can be used in similar contexts, but determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When would resolve be a good substitute for settle?

In some situations, the words resolve and settle are roughly equivalent. However, resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

In what contexts can rule take the place of settle?

Although the words rule and settle have much in common, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

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 settle Facing second-and-goal from the 3, Manning throws one ball away, then throws incomplete on third down, and the Longhorns settle for a 22-yard field goal. Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025 The Crimson Tide settled for a field goal. David Ubben, New York Times, 11 Oct. 2025 The lawsuit was settled after mediation, court records show. Keith Sharon, Nashville Tennessean, 11 Oct. 2025 As Ralphy continues settling into his new life in England after being rescued from China, TikTok users are loving his growing curiosity about the world. Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
Verb
  • Brood parasites such as cuckoos lay their eggs in other birds’ nests, tricking the hosts into caring for their offspring at the expense of their own.
    Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 6 Oct. 2025
  • In the opening scene, Swift is seen laying inside a painting with long blond hair and side bangs.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • But our characters inhabit the same universe.
    Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 8 Oct. 2025
  • Just like wolves, bison, pronghorns, prairie dogs, beavers, and monarch butterflies, these bears are on the list of epic species inhabiting North America — which means that any immigration- and tariff-related threats and decisions made by the region’s countries invariably affect them as well.
    Ganesh Marín, The Dial, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Bendicksen, the center’s director of wildlife rehabilitation, decided to attempt something few would consider, a wing transplant.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Timberview decided to go for it on fourth-and-five but was stopped at the Jaguars’ 10-yard line.
    Jordan Neal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Get our best clever painting hacks to extend the height of a room, space-saving storage ideas, and tips for arranging bedroom furniture.
    Abby Wolner, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Oct. 2025
  • In other words, this year, the Eagles’ opponents are more often presenting four deep defenders against their three wide receiver sets instead of deploying a single-high safety and arranging the remaining defenders to play closer to the line of scrimmage.
    Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Eleven days later, Sharon received a message through the Love Lost chat from a neighbor who spotted a cat perched on a roof near a vet's office.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2025
  • His reflective blue shades were perched atop a baseball cap, obscuring much of his face.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Israel will publish the list of the prisoners — and victims of their attacks have 24 hours to lodge objections.
    Dave Smith, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2025
  • The visitors bureau receives most of its revenue from taxes on lodging places and restaurants, which totaled close to $19 million in 2024.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Across five starts, Thiaw has been quietly composed.
    Chris Waugh, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • During setup, NordLocker generates a 25-character recovery key, composed of numbers and capital letters, and advises you to store it in a secure location.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • McSweeney’s elevation appeared bizarre, but Bailey and his selection team have openly stated their belief that the Test team should contain the best six batters regardless of position.
    Sam Dalling, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • But much like Week 1 against Justin Herbert and the Chargers, the Chiefs’ inability to contain the opposing quarterback in timely spots lost them the football game.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 7 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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