decisive

adjective

de·ci·sive | \ di-ˈsī-siv

Definition of decisive

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

Other Words from decisive Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about decisive

Keep scrolling for more

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

The waivers have the potential to be one of the most decisive factors in letting states go separate ways on health care. — Stephanie Armour, WSJ, "Trump Administration Details Health-Law Waivers for States," 29 Nov. 2018 The country’s lack of recent military experience could prove the decisive factor in a future conflict, one that would be utterly unlike any conflict China has ever fought before. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Is the Chinese Military Ready for War?," 27 Nov. 2018 This mixed bag suggests that ideology simply wasn’t the decisive factor. — Zack Beauchamp, Vox, "The strange argument that Democrats actually lost the midterms, debunked," 9 Nov. 2018 How much blame for Khashoggi’s disappearance or death settles on the 33-year-old crown prince has become a decisive factor in his standing in the eyes of the West and within the royal family. — David Botti, The Seattle Times, "Suspects in Khashoggi case had ties to Saudi crown prince," 16 Oct. 2018 Squad leaders traded turns on the front of the team ‘‘trains,’’ with the ability to constantly maintain a fast pace the decisive factor over a challenging — if not highly technical — route featuring a few minor hills. — Andrew Dampf, BostonGlobe.com, "Richie Porte’s BMC team wins team time trial," 9 July 2018 The Russian air campaign was the decisive factor that allowed an Iranian-led victory on the ground in Syria. — Yaakov Lappin, Jewish Journal, "Middle East braces for a tense May," 1 May 2018 The reporting, published during the campaign, was a decisive factor in Moore losing the once-safe Republican seat to a Democrat. — Matt Pearce, latimes.com, "Weinstein stories that sparked #MeToo win Pulitzer Prize," 17 Apr. 2018 Lamb won his special House election by just 627 votes, and Patrick Murray, the Director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute, said his disavowal of Pelosi could have been the decisive factor. — NBC News, "Facing GOP attacks, more Democratic candidates ditch Pelosi," 28 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'decisive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.