decisive

adjective

de·ci·sive di-ˈsī-siv

Synonyms of decisive next

: having the power or quality of deciding

The council president cast the decisive vote.

a decisive battle

: resolute, determined

a decisive manner

decisive leaders

a decisive editor

: unmistakable, unquestionable

a decisive superiority

decisively adverb

decisiveness noun

Choose the Right Synonym for decisive

conclusive, decisive, determinative, definitive mean bringing to an end.

conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

conclusive evidence

decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

a decisive battle

determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

the determinative factor in the court's decision

definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

the definitive biography

Examples of decisive in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web The third and decisive set went by fast, and Gauff sealed it when Sabalenka came to the net down 2 games to 5, with her forehand volley ready, but with Gauff's squeezing off a passing shot that screamed past and landed in. —

Dennis Romero, NBC News, 9 Sep. 2023 Ariana Burks as Oedipus’ less decisive daughter Ismene fleshes out this sorrowful family tale. —

Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2023 And after Watson posted the second-highest time to throw in the NFL last season, his understudy is counting on a more decisive mentor this fall. —

Jimmy Watkins, cleveland, 7 Sep. 2023 Pierre was credited with the decisive blow of the game on her ninth and final kill. —

Aj Traub, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 Within days of the Capitol attack, the far-right group became a priority for the F.B.I.’s inquiry into Jan. 6 as investigators quickly determined that dozens of its members had played decisive roles in breaching barricades and assaulting the police. —

Alan Feuer, New York Times, 5 Sep. 2023 Portland started out on the front foot, making strong runs into the box but not quite finding the final, decisive pass. —

oregonlive, 31 Aug. 2023 The decisive first half set a tone the Eagles wouldn’t relinquish despite a better second-half effort from the Friars. —

Glenn Graham, Baltimore Sun, 29 Aug. 2023 Prigozhin continued to travel between Russia and Belarus — where his forces have established a base in exile — and even to Africa, stunning members of the Russian elite who had expected a swift and decisive punishment. —

Francesca Ebel, Washington Post, 24 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decisive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French decisif, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēcīsīvus, from Latin dēcīsus, past participle of dēcīdere "to cut off, cut out, mark by cutting, settle, choose as a course of action" + -īvus -ive — more at decide

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of decisive was in 1584

See more words from the same year