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

For a holiday park, a glamping site or a dealer, the wall system decides how much work the buildings will need after the first guests arrive. — Rolanas Kutra, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

But the commodity is not what decides whether the law reaches you. — Maria Brozman, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2026

In an excruciating scene, Carrère, emboldened by more than a few rounds of vodka, decides to begin speaking Russian to his companions, who have made a point of speaking only Ukrainian. — Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2026

On the next attempt, the cooling system, supported by that massive radiator in the bed, decides to start cooling the garage instead of the engine. — Adam Ismail, The Drive, 4 Nov. 2026

When this massive brand decides to partner with a high-end bike builder like Rotwild and leap into the consumer electric mountain bike space, the industry is certainly going to jump to attention. — New Atlas, 3 Nov. 2026

Lakshmana decides to interrupt the meeting, accepting his own destruction rather than endangering Ayodhya and Rama’s household. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

As day one of the sale winds down, Ingordo decides to switch things up. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

Okta is an independent identity provider, and its software decides who, or what, gets into a company's applications and data. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2026