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 His fate will be decided by twelve jurors in the coming weeks in the Southern District of New York. Danielle Bacher, People.com, 1 July 2025 Portland made headlines last week after deciding to part ways with president Inky Son less than three months after she was hired, underlining the risk of short launch timelines for newcomers. Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 1 July 2025 The first count the jurors need to decide on, per TMZ, is racketeering conspiracy. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 1 July 2025 Last year, for the very first time, Mónica Martínez López decided to run for office. David Weigel, semafor.com, 1 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • And the God, who is an omnipotent God, in many ways become impotent, because God has given us the gift to choose.
    Scott Simon, NPR, 28 June 2025
  • This investigation can finally create price transparency in Florida, empowering patients to choose the best care at the best prices.
    Cynthia A Fisher, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 June 2025
Verb
  • Tuesday’s vote was merely a primary to determine who will be representing the Democratic Party.
    Solcyré Burga, Time, 25 June 2025
  • Kyoto attracts 75 million annual visitors to its 1,000 Buddhist temples and was cited in 1.2 million online searches and 23 million hashtags, the study determined.
    Gary Stoller, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
Verb
  • Similar to a puzzle, the goal is for kids to arrange the strings in a way that fits within the board’s pattern.
    Laura Lu, Parents, 30 June 2025
  • According to El País, Leyva traveled to the U.S. in April and tried to arrange meetings with high-profile Republicans including Florida U.S. Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • Quiet and largely seasonably pleasant weather will settle across the Kansas City area on Tuesday, giving the metro a break from the heat and storms of the past few days, according to the National Weather Service.
    Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2025
  • Combs denied the claims and quickly settled with her.
    July 1, CBS News, 1 July 2025
Verb
  • Some things are beyond the capacity of a child to understand, while others resonate most profoundly out of the mouths of babes.
    Peter Debruge, Variety, 5 July 2025
  • If not, the Kings might come to understand why Kerr couldn’t always trust Kuminga in key situations.
    Jason Anderson July 5, Sacbee.com, 5 July 2025
Verb
  • That means Oliveira cannot opt to strike in range against Topuria, who is a powerful striker with good footwork and finishing skills.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025
  • Johansson opted for the quiet luxury trend for her appearance on the Sirius XM show.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • This can help in judging whether the most recent dividends from these companies are likely to continue.
    Dividend Channel, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • From crispy shrimp to slow-roasted roast beef dripping with gravy, every bite will be judged on flavor, creativity, and authenticity.
    Dominique Fluker, Essence, 30 June 2025
Verb
  • However, the original equation was derived from predominantly mammalian data.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 24 June 2025
  • Of that amount, $1.2 billion was derived from membership fees alone—accounting for nearly half of the operating profit, and primarily recurring.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

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