decide

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decide are determine, resolve, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When can determine be used instead of decide?

Although the words determine and decide have much in common, determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

In what contexts can resolve take the place of decide?

The synonyms resolve and decide are sometimes interchangeable, but resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

When might rule be a better fit than decide?

In some situations, the words rule and decide are roughly equivalent. However, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

When is settle a more appropriate choice than decide?

While the synonyms settle and decide are close in meaning, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

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 decide With the city holding title to the land, officials have to decide how to clear the lot and what to do with it. Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2025 In most states, juries now decide just 1% to 2% of criminal and civil cases that come before the courts. Richard Lorren Jolly, The Conversation, 5 Sep. 2025 Miami voters won’t get the chance to decide on moving the city from odd- to even-year elections this November after only two out of five city commissioners showed up to a special meeting Friday. Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025 This time, its Hellmann’s deciding to dabble in denim. Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • In her autobiography, Gibson wrote about biding her time rather than choosing to agitate.
    Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Some actors might choose to step away from such a thing, or even be frustrated by it or it being brought up in interviews, but Fischer clearly enjoys every last moment of her good fortune from a former era, even now.
    Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Office of the Inspector General launched a criminal investigation and determined the shots had been fired from where two FBI agents and an Oregon State Police officer had been standing.
    Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The first thing her soon-to-be husband did was fly to North Carolina to bring their youngest daughter home from camp, determined to have the entire family together for the special day.
    Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Latest section, on the other hand, arranges posts and reels in chronological order, with the most recent ones appearing first.
    Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Around the country, arranging for housing is a relatively new and growing challenge for such PACE groups, which are funded through Medicaid and Medicare.
    Felice J. Freyer, Miami Herald, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Science is never settled For decades, it was assumed that AHE was always spin-driven and only occurred in magnetic materials.
    Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2025
  • Keough said her grandmother tried to settle Lisa Marie's estate less than 24 hours after her death in 2023.
    Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 6 Sep. 2025
  • If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.
    George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • In each case, magistrate judges had already found probable cause to proceed with the charges forward, yet jurors opted not to return indictments.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of pairing the look with pants, Lopez opted for sheer black floral-print stockings and pointed black heels.
    Starr Bowenbank, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Plenty of thought clearly also went into creating the right ambience from the moment the team bus pulls up behind the West Stand judging by the different lighting and imagery used to shift the mood as the players pass through the bowels of the arena.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • The fear of being judged, penalized, or replaced by AI is real, especially for underrepresented groups, like women, who use it less.
    Brad Rencher, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This results in work that feels aligned, effortless, and rewarding, helping the individual to derive greater meaning from chasing opportunity.
    Wyles Daniel, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Broader than body image, self-esteem is a subjective emotional state derived from one's assessment of oneself.
    Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 28 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 7 Sep. 2025.

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