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
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
There was a decided buzz at the convention for Hoerner, whose high approval rating was apparent as trade rumors swirled.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
That price gain is a decided cooling from the 39% jump between 2019 and 2022.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2025
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
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
John Ramos, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
The council ultimately decided to pursue setting up a committee to look into new skate boarding options generally, and not just at Glen Park.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Instead of going in person, Kaplan decided to order the cake via email, requesting the same two-tier cake without mentioning their previous correspondence.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Nurse Heidy Justiniano had not decided who to vote for while already in line outside a public school in Lima.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The family decided to bury Hassan in the school’s backyard.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The government also decided to suspend non-emergency surgeries, imaging and other services in hospitals, citing the lack of fuel.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
But Ellsworth decided on the ad quickly and without the kind of prolonged testing that larger companies rely on.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Also that year, the Hoages decided to retire and sell their property.
—Laura Ness, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Follow pre-decided processes to avoid misunderstandings and unnecessary emotional labor.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Mar. 2026
There was a decided buzz at the convention for Hoerner, whose high approval rating was apparent as trade rumors swirled.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 17 Jan. 2026
That price gain is a decided cooling from the 39% jump between 2019 and 2022.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 27 Aug. 2025
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
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
Mother Nature decided to rain on the parade, but even before that, there was a dark cloud hanging over the annual celebration.
—John Ramos, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
The council ultimately decided to pursue setting up a committee to look into new skate boarding options generally, and not just at Glen Park.
—Barbara Henry, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Apr. 2026
Instead of going in person, Kaplan decided to order the cake via email, requesting the same two-tier cake without mentioning their previous correspondence.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Nurse Heidy Justiniano had not decided who to vote for while already in line outside a public school in Lima.
—ABC News, 12 Apr. 2026
The family decided to bury Hassan in the school’s backyard.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
The government also decided to suspend non-emergency surgeries, imaging and other services in hospitals, citing the lack of fuel.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
But Ellsworth decided on the ad quickly and without the kind of prolonged testing that larger companies rely on.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 12 Apr. 2026
Also that year, the Hoages decided to retire and sell their property.
—Laura Ness, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decided
Adjective
-
Make kind choices and keep boundaries obvious.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Apr. 2026
-
That said, the presence of companies concerned with defense, security, and sensitive radar systems among the apparent ultimate targets raises obvious red flags.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In order to avoid shutting down entirely within two years, the Hickman Mills school board opted to approve a series of sweeping cuts, eliminating more than 70 jobs and dozens of district contracts while closing a historic elementary school.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The city originally considered placing the buoys 300 yards from shore but opted for a closer placement to avoid damaging natural reef areas.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her law license was suspended, but even then she was determined not to give up her caseload.—
Patrick Radden Keefe,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
That September, investigators determined the incidents may be related and began interviewing residents in the area in November.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Shuttle services have been arranged to transport journalists between the media center and a hotel in the city’s main shopping mall.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Shipping can always be arranged—at a price.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
All the grit and sugar had settled at the bottom.—
Douglas Stuart,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
At 14 weeks pregnant and with a gender reveal party on the horizon, her family said things had settled into place.—
Caroline Silva,
AJC.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Raves unfold in public spaces and the music derived from the culture’s myriad scenes tends to be social in nature.—
Mark Richardson,
Pitchfork,
11 Apr. 2026
-
In September 2025, Judge Mazzei ruled that evidence derived from cutting-edge DNA technology would be admissible at Heuermann’s trial.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That said, the presence of companies concerned with defense, security, and sensitive radar systems among the apparent ultimate targets raises obvious red flags.—
Jessica Klein,
PC Magazine,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The following year, Salling died at age 35 of an apparent suicide.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Santiago Castro’s intended cross deflected off Ezri Konsa and over the line, only for the striker’s toe to be judged offside in the build-up.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
It'll be judged in April 2027 or 2028 when people see what [the war] has done over the coming months and years.—
Fatma Tanis,
NPR,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decided.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decided. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
