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 Two years ago, Jenny decided to retire from owning restaurants and shut down the family’s eateries. Sacbee.com, 12 Sep. 2025 Bedford, on a whim, decided to keep the trees. Mark Dent, HubSpot, 12 Sep. 2025 This series would decide which team stays in the division race in the final weeks of the season. Aaliyan Mohammed, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Sep. 2025 Instead, Green Bay decided to go for it. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 12 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • Lauren chose a golden, super-cinched Schiaparelli gown, while Jeff wore a classic tuxedo.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 13 Sep. 2025
  • This means regularly assessing your thinking skills, consciously choosing when to engage versus delegate mental tasks, and maintaining practices that keep your mind sharp.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After an initial jam session to determine musical abilities and interests, participants are paired up and assigned to a counselor who manages their activities for the week.
    Jim Clash, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Reuters was unable to determine whether Pulte or administration officials are aware of Cook’s Atlanta loan estimate.
    Chris Prentice, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • North was convicted in 1989 on three felony charges for helping to arrange the illicit sale of weapons to Iran and divert the proceeds to fund a secret war against anti-communist Contra rebels in Nicaragua.
    Josh Meyer, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Wegovy injection pens arranged in Waterbury, Vermont, US, on Monday, April 28, 2025.
    Karen Gilchrist,Katrina Bishop, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • At the plaza, Seth Teasdale was nearby as Kirk flung some caps into the crowd, then settled into his seat under the canopy to take questions.
    Rick Jervis, USA Today, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The Cortège gestures toward that transcendence, but too often settles for the kind of veiled enchantment that follows us home through our screens.
    David Hochman, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Your smartphone's voice assistant struggles to understand your accent but works perfectly for others.
    Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • While parenting responsibilities are widely understood and sometimes better supported in the workplace, senior care still has a long way to go, Zlotsky said.
    Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Elsewhere, she’s opted for sequin sea blue Balenciaga, and chose a sparkling structural Alexander McQueen gown for last year’s BAFTAs.
    Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
  • The team behind the Price Tracker opted to focus on the 100 largest metro areas because some data for smaller localities is inconsistent.
    ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Bill Sharp of Big Wave Challenge, the sport’s new governing body, was on the judging panel that analyzed photos of Slebir’s ride from six angles.
    Julia Prodis Sulek, Mercury News, 13 Sep. 2025
  • Despite its rough appearance, the system helped operators better judge distance and handle tasks more precisely.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • This number, an accepted consensus derived from World Bank and Asian Development Bank data, includes roughly 700 million from China, and 400 million from Southeast Asia.
    Rich Karlgaard, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Blood sugar, also known as blood glucose, is the primary fuel for the body, derived from food and released into the bloodstream.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 6 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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