as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation
a decided hint of perfume on her skin
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in opted
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration
they decided to go out for pizza after the movie was over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in determined
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
the judge decided that the defendant was not liable for damages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arranged
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
we waited for our captors to decide our fate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in settled
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
the huge sum that they were offering decided the matter: we would sell the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in derived
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
the commanding officer decided that the soldier was indeed telling the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 decided
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 12 June 2024
Social media reaction is mixed, albeit with a decided tilt toward outrage.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Once the Ravens opted to rest several key players last week against the Bengals in Cincinnati and the hosts took an early lead, the game’s outcome became more or less decided.
—Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2023
In a battle royale shooter, for instance, a small group of players communicating outside the game could stay together and gain a decided firepower advantage against their single opponents.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 28 Nov. 2022
They’re confined to a pre-decided go-zone.
—Hannah Fry, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2018
Among decided voters, 86 percent of those who voted for the Ennahda and 84 percent of those who supported the FJP in the last elections would vote for them again.
—Lindsay Benstead, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2013
Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
One such angel, however, decided to rebel against this way of life.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, during its NWSL playoff debut, Racing Louisville FC fell to the Washington Spirit in a match decided by penalty kicks yesterday afternoon.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Nov. 2025
Her family had decided to move to Arkansas to get far away from the water and that sound.
—John D. Sutter, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
According to a 2023 study, 94% of partners who did the proposing paid for the engagement ring in full, and only 2% of couples reportedly decided to split the cost of the ring.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Voter anger over the cost of living is hurtling forward into next year’s midterm elections, when pivotal contests will be decided by communities that are home to fast-rising electric bills or fights over who’s footing the bill to power Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
My sister decided to do a gender reveal to cheer us up and look forward to the baby.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Price looked for more ideas and decided a chalk face had been carved out within the basement.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Households are broadly cutting their discretionary spending and making a decided turn toward the practical.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 12 June 2024
Social media reaction is mixed, albeit with a decided tilt toward outrage.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024
Once the Ravens opted to rest several key players last week against the Bengals in Cincinnati and the hosts took an early lead, the game’s outcome became more or less decided.
—Hayes Gardner, Baltimore Sun, 13 Jan. 2023
In a battle royale shooter, for instance, a small group of players communicating outside the game could stay together and gain a decided firepower advantage against their single opponents.
—Kyle Orland, Ars Technica, 28 Nov. 2022
They’re confined to a pre-decided go-zone.
—Hannah Fry, Discover Magazine, 24 Oct. 2018
Among decided voters, 86 percent of those who voted for the Ennahda and 84 percent of those who supported the FJP in the last elections would vote for them again.
—Lindsay Benstead, Foreign Affairs, 14 Feb. 2013
Verb
So last Monday, after scrolling through news of the government shutdown and with nothing else planned for the day, the couple decided to fire up their Pit Boss pellet grill and feed anyone who was hungry, no questions asked.
—Sean Clancy, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
One such angel, however, decided to rebel against this way of life.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, during its NWSL playoff debut, Racing Louisville FC fell to the Washington Spirit in a match decided by penalty kicks yesterday afternoon.
—Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 9 Nov. 2025
Her family had decided to move to Arkansas to get far away from the water and that sound.
—John D. Sutter, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
According to a 2023 study, 94% of partners who did the proposing paid for the engagement ring in full, and only 2% of couples reportedly decided to split the cost of the ring.
—Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Nov. 2025
Voter anger over the cost of living is hurtling forward into next year’s midterm elections, when pivotal contests will be decided by communities that are home to fast-rising electric bills or fights over who’s footing the bill to power Big Tech’s energy-hungry data centers.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
My sister decided to do a gender reveal to cheer us up and look forward to the baby.
—Brian Anthony Hernandez, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Price looked for more ideas and decided a chalk face had been carved out within the basement.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decided
Adjective
-
The proximity to Lincoln Center was an obvious draw for musicians, and renters included an avant-garde composer on the sixth floor, a bassist on the fourth, and an opera teacher on the ground level.—
Will Ellis,
Curbed,
6 Jan. 2026
-
After successfully training rookie Jackson West, Angela sets her sights on becoming a detective while trying to ignore her obvious chemistry with defense attorney Wesley Evers (Shawn Ashmore).—
Tanya Melendez,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Keeping her look the centerpiece of her red carpet moment, Sink opted for minimal, if any, accessories.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Its success hinges on the chemistry between the two leads, so when it was ordered to pilot in early August, ABC and the studio opted to take their time with the casting search for the male lead in order to find a good match for Bloom.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At this time, there is no data on the containment status of the fire and the cause has yet to be determined.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Investigators determined that four teenage boys were waiting for a bus at the Transit Mall when they were accosted by two young adult men wearing ski masks and dark clothing.—
Carlos E. Castañeda,
CBS News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dickey also has to try to balance getting at least six home games per year while honoring the home-and-home series that have been arranged.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The Department of Children's Services has arranged for the children to stay with a relative.—
Andy Humbles,
Nashville Tennessean,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
But friends who settled in America urged them to move across the Atlantic, where the training facilities were better and the opportunity for ice time aplenty.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
And Akrivos told me that in the late nineteenth century, pockets of socialist German immigrants settled in the area.—
Naaman Zhou,
New Yorker,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The probes follow a global surge over the past few weeks in the use of Grok to create and share nonconsensual, intimate images, or NCII, derived from photos or videos of real people in response to user’s prompts.—
Lora Kolodny,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The same debate is playing out over off-brand marijuana products like Delta-8, which are derived from hemp.—
Kayla Dwyer,
IndyStar,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Prince Harry apologized for his apparent support of the Los Angeles Dodgers during the 2025 World Series.—
Lauryn Overhultz,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Watson, in an apparent spur-of-the-moment remark, announced that the project would devote 3 to 5 percent of its budget to the study of bioethics.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The success or failure of this season was always going to be judged in the playoffs.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
-
No one likes dry cake—not at home, not in a restaurant or from a bakery, not at the bake sale, and certainly not at a church supper where cakes are judged so competitively against each other.—
Anne Byrn,
Southern Living,
4 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decided. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share