Synonyms of decides

decides

verb

present tense third-person singular of decide

1

as in chooses

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

• chooses
• opts
• determines
• resolves
• figures
• finds
• concludes
• elects
• settles (on or upon)
• picks
• selects
• rules
• prefers
• names
• decrees
• contemplates
• ponders
• deliberates
• adjudicates
• considers
• adjudges
• rules (on)
• thinks (about or over)
• handpicks
• judges
• weighs
• debates
• culls
• arbitrates
• meditates
• entertains
• ruminates
• singles (out)
• cogitates
• studies
• mulls (over)
• referees
• questions
• umpires
• chews over

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• refuses
• rejects
• declines
• abstains
• hesitates
• turns down
• halts
• delays
• stalls
• vacillates
• wavers
• temporizes
• waffles
• shilly-shallies

2

as in determines

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

• determines
• settles
• considers
• judges
• resolves
• hears
• adjudicates
• arbitrates
• adjudges
• deems
• prosecutes
• rules (on)
• weighs
• concludes
• tries
• deliberates
• ponders
• referees
• umpires
• negotiates
• mediates
• finds (for or against)
• moderates
• sizes up
• redetermines
• rejudges

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• equivocates
• hedges
• skirts
• pussyfoots

3

as in arranges

to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of

we waited for our captors to decide our fate

Synonyms & Similar Words

• arranges
• chooses
• resolves
• plans
• agrees (on)
• completes
• sets
• figures
• finalizes
• settles
• determines
• concludes
• designs
• finishes
• fixes
• charts
• disposes of
• approves
• confirms
• opts
• promises
• calculates
• programs
• negotiates
• schemes
• authorizes
• closes
• shapes
• pledges
• affirms
• maps (out)
• drafts
• maneuvers
• ends
• intrigues
• works out
• deals
• contracts
• lays out
• concerts
• schematizes
• frames
• hammers out
• sanctions
• warrants
• squares away
• blueprints
• winds up
• OKs
• clears
• rounds (off or out)
• bargains
• haggles
• wraps up
• dickers
• chaffers
• horse-trades

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• calls
• recalls
• drops
• revokes
• repeals
• differs (over)
• rescinds
• opposes
• resists
• disagrees (with)
• aborts
• debates
• counters
• calls off
• objects
• protests
• disputes
• contests

4

as in settles

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

• determines
• settles
• clinches
• clarifies
• proves
• defines
• ensures
• nails
• assures
• establishes
• shows
• demonstrates
• specifies
• affirms
• insures
• stipulates
• illuminates
• nails (down)
• states
• secures
• ends
• concludes
• finishes
• clears (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• confuses
• unsettles
• muddles
• muddies

5

as in derives

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

• derives
• understands
• thinks
• concludes
• infers
• deduces
• assumes
• speculates
• extrapolates
• judges
• reasons
• guesses
• supposes
• ascertains
• gathers
• reads
• makes out
• draws a conclusion
• contemplates
• interprets
• surmises
• rationalizes
• construes
• conjectures
• philosophizes
• finds out
• dopes (out)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of decides

She is involved in a bus accident that results in a fatality and, with the crusading passion that so many people felt after 9/11, decides to get involved as a witness and truth-teller. — Joshua Rothkopf, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The Oconomowoc Area School District will align its decision on Flock cameras with whatever the City of Oconomowoc decides regarding its own use of the cameras. — Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026

As questions emerge about Abel’s motives, Camilo begins to piece together what is really happening and decides to take control of his future. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

The bitter, disillusioned Tucker, estranged from his wife and young son because of his years of absence overseas, decides to round up the members of his old unit and embark on a mission to retrieve the money. — Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2026

Sybylla’s bridge to her potential new future is most often her grandmother’s unlikely best friend, Augusta (Kate Mulvany), a wealthy crusader for women’s causes who decides to champion Sybylla’s literary ambitions. — Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026

Key to this process is what computer scientists call a gate – that is, a molecular switch that decides how much of an existing memory to keep and how much to overwrite when new information arrives. — Shiladitya Banerjee, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026

At its conclusion, the release said, the task force will provide recommendations before Florence City Council decides how to move forward. — Gillian Stawiszynski, Cincinnati Enquirer, 10 Sep. 2026

If the prosecution decides to retry the case, a new jury would be selected, and the case would proceed to a new trial with a different jury. — Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2026