Synonym Chooser

How is the word conclusive different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of conclusive are decisive, definitive, and determinative. While all these words mean "bringing to an end," conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

conclusive evidence

When would decisive be a good substitute for conclusive?

The words decisive and conclusive can be used in similar contexts, but decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

a decisive battle

When could definitive be used to replace conclusive?

The meanings of definitive and conclusive largely overlap; however, definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

the definitive biography

When might determinative be a better fit than conclusive?

While in some cases nearly identical to conclusive, determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

the determinative factor in the court's decision

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 conclusive Ohio police reopened the case but got no conclusive results. Stephanie Warsmith, USA Today, 8 June 2025 Earlier this week, Harvard moved for a conclusive decision from a federal judge to unfreeze close to $2.5 billion in federal funds that Trump’s administration pulled from the school. Tara Suter, The Hill, 5 June 2025 Results from this simple blood test can narrow down possibilities, and direct people towards a PET scan for conclusive diagnosis more quickly. Louise Jacobsen Fisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 June 2025 While another research review published this year in Nutrients says the research for athletic benefits in women isn’t yet conclusive, there are also reasons to suspect women may benefit from creatine at least as much as men, if not more, both inside and outside the gym, Dr. Smith-Ryan says. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for conclusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conclusive
Adjective
  • Introducing the 2025 Fortune 500, the definitive ranking of the biggest companies in America.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 23 June 2025
  • Such discrepancies in Bach’s manuscripts show that no definitive version of the Mass exists and that modern performers are free to follow their intuition.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • Anything short of a convincing win would be a massive loss for the club.
    Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 June 2025
  • Auckland City is the reigning champion of the New Zealand National League and met the qualifying criteria in the most convincing fashion.
    James Nalton, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Adjective
  • Yamamoto allowed eight runs in six innings across two regular-season starts last year against the Padres and then had a bad start in Game 1 of the NLDS (3 IP, 5 ER) before throwing five shutout innings in the decisive Game 5.
    Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
  • There’s an actual path to decisive success, and that can change the political calculus in Washington.
    Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • The front pleat featured on the top offers a compelling alternative to graphic T-shirts and even bustier tops.
    Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 19 June 2025
  • Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
    Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 19 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sweeney opened up about the scrutiny surrounding her body last year in an interview with Variety.
    Charles Trepany, USA Today, 18 June 2025
  • Clinical trial data from last year suggest just two injections a year provide near-complete protection against an HIV infection.
    Jonathan Lambert, NPR, 18 June 2025
Adjective
  • According to research from Everytown for Gun Safety, a nonprofit that advocates for gun control, strong gun control laws are correlated with fewer gun deaths.
    Elliot Hughes, Journal Sentinel, 13 Jan. 2023
  • This results in a charge imbalance that builds up an electric field strong enough to trigger flashes of lightning.
    National Geographic, National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023
Adjective
  • The issue is parents need to decide because the science is very clear on fluoride.
    Greta Cross, USA Today, 28 June 2025
  • For night sky enthusiasts, the hot springs are from enough from Reykjavík to have only low levels of light pollution, and the night skies are clear enough for the northern lights in winter.
    Zoe Baillargeon, Travel + Leisure, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • To make market size less determinative and chaos more predictable.
    Mike Vorkunov, New York Times, 22 June 2025
  • The 10 percent is not determinative for whether an employer has been partially suspended.
    Matthew Roberts, Forbes, 12 Jan. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Conclusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conclusive. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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