1
as in deep
firmly established over time
a remote village with a settled distrust of outsiders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
settled rules that cannot be disregarded when it is convenient to do so
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in filtered
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in populated
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in decided
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arranged
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in perched
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in lodged
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in calmed
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in contained
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in paid
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in determined
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 settled
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Of course the categories may overlap, but many of the young people in Astoria or Ridgewood-Bushwick have grown up in their parents’ homes in more settled parts of the city.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Erin Simkin—Netflix Advertisement Under Konner and Kaplan, Nobody Wants This has grown into a more settled and expansive show.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Howe’s first-choice midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton was both very settled and very, very good.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Cool weather and wind gusts settled over lines resembling a maze both inside and outside the airport, creating confusion and chaos.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
When the dust had settled on the first Friday of March, Guerin had remade parts of his team’s roster, to be sure.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Epstein survivors have brought similar lawsuits against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank that were later settled for hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose settled at its highest level since mid-2022 on Friday.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Moore took some time to figure out her next move and ultimately settled on coaching due to her experience with Campbell and Lopez.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
After three years of debate, hampered in part by COVID-19, the committee settled on Dolores Huerta.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
That debate is far from settled.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Jacobs launched Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001, cementing his eventual status as a fashion mogul — and, at moments throughout his career, as a kind of enfant terrible who, as it’s shown in this documentary, has cooled down a bit, more settled and reflective in his late career.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Of course the categories may overlap, but many of the young people in Astoria or Ridgewood-Bushwick have grown up in their parents’ homes in more settled parts of the city.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Erin Simkin—Netflix Advertisement Under Konner and Kaplan, Nobody Wants This has grown into a more settled and expansive show.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Howe’s first-choice midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton was both very settled and very, very good.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Alcantara settled back in after that to cruise through his final three innings.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2026
Cool weather and wind gusts settled over lines resembling a maze both inside and outside the airport, creating confusion and chaos.
—Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
When the dust had settled on the first Friday of March, Guerin had remade parts of his team’s roster, to be sure.
—Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 28 Mar. 2026
Epstein survivors have brought similar lawsuits against JPMorgan Chase and Deutsche Bank that were later settled for hundreds of millions of dollars.
—Chloe Atkins, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
West Texas Intermediate crude oil futures rose settled at its highest level since mid-2022 on Friday.
—Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 28 Mar. 2026
Moore took some time to figure out her next move and ultimately settled on coaching due to her experience with Campbell and Lopez.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Mar. 2026
After three years of debate, hampered in part by COVID-19, the committee settled on Dolores Huerta.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2026
That debate is far from settled.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settled
Adjective
-
With a spot in the Final Four on the line, excitement is building among fans who believe their team can make a deep run.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
But those subsidies have masked a deeper affordability crisis — one in which insurers themselves play a central role.—
Barbara Hoare,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Officials said Kuwait’s electricity and water systems remain stable and contingency plans had been activated to ensure continued supply, according to the statement.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Officials said injury statuses ranged from stable to critical.—
Garrett Behanna,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Call it la dolce vita filtered through an exuberant American lens.—
Ingrid Abramovitch,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
-
But there is something so wonderful about being fifty and having your own job and having been through so many disappointments that a situation like this is filtered through different experiences and people—the narrator’s discernment has an incredible clarity.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
It’s populated by craven, cowardly traitors.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Scattered across the continent were hundreds of towns populated by a few hundred people, and each of these towns had an economic hinterland of perhaps 50 to 100 square miles, with the bulk of all agricultural and household production produced and remaining in that area.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The other day, an observer decided to follow one of these parcels, chosen at random—a featherweight, toaster-size box from Sephora, addressed to 235 West Forty-eighth Street—and chart its journey.—
Henry Alford,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Nuggets decided to rule him out as a precautionary measure.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The vendors could be selling from tents arranged in the parking lot surrounding a local community center or city hall.—
C.W. Cameron,
AJC.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The next iteration of Omar’s tetela will be filled with fresh fava beans and arranged with mushrooms.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The venue, perched atop Edge — the highest outdoor sky deck in the Western Hemisphere at 1,131 feet — transforms the observation deck into a high-energy nightlife destination each summer.—
Abigail Park,
Billboard,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As soon as Wednesday, a four-person crew could launch on a mission to fly around the moon in an Orion capsule that's currently perched at the top of a 322-foot, orange-and-white rocket waiting at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, Ronnie Reese, Johnson’s first press secretary, kept his job for months after harassment allegations were lodged against him by female subordinates.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Three performances in particular — one at Liverpool, one at Manchester City, one at Leeds — are lodged in the mind.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settled. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
