decisive

adjective

de·​ci·​sive di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce decisive (audio)
1
: having the power or quality of deciding
The council president cast the decisive vote.
a decisive battle
2
: resolute, determined
a decisive manner
decisive leaders
a decisive editor
3
: 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.
Recent Examples on the Web As initial vote counts rolled in on Tuesday night, Assemblymember Laura Friedman (D-Glendale) took an early but decisive lead in the race to replace outgoing Rep. Adam B. Schiff in a coveted Los Angeles-area House seat. Julia Wick, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Both took big, probably decisive steps toward that goal Tuesday. David Lightman, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2024 Which country has more and better artillery ammunition might be the decisive factor as Russia’s wider war on Ukraine grinds into its third year. David Axe, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 North Korean military assistance could therefore be decisive in Russia’s campaign to halt Ukrainian troops’ progress. Oriana Skylar Mastro, Foreign Affairs, 19 Feb. 2024 Happy Birthday: Be decisive and shoot for the stars. Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024 So, the decisive factor will be how well a show is made. Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Feb. 2024 Indeed, no game over the next month will be nearly so decisive as the draw for the quarterfinals. Rory Smith, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024 And that could be the decisive factor as the four-month battle for Avdiivka, currently the focus of Russia’s two-year wider assault on Ukraine, likely culminates. David Axe, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2024

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

Dictionary Entries Near decisive

Cite this Entry

“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decisive. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

decisive

adjective
de·​ci·​sive di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce decisive (audio)
1
: having the power to decide
the decisive vote
2
: unmistakable, unquestionable
a decisive victory
3
: marked by or showing decision
a decisive manner
decisively adverb
decisiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on decisive

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