DECIDING Synonyms: 236 Similar and Opposite Words

deciding 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsī-diŋ

Definition of deciding

as in decisive

serving to put an end to all debate or questioning the project's prohibitive cost was the deciding factor in its cancellation

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deciding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of decide

as in choosing

to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration they decided to go out for pizza after the movie was over

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in determining

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) the judge decided that the defendant was not liable for damages

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in arranging

to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of we waited for our captors to decide our fate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in settling

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute the huge sum that they were offering decided the matter: we would sell the house

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deriving

to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information the commanding officer decided that the soldier was indeed telling the truth

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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 deciding

Adjective

Instead, the person must show race was the crucial and deciding factor. — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 The bullpen gave up the lead on the first pitch, and then three more in the deciding 10th inning. — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025 Travis weeks earlier cited as the deciding and unprecedented factor. — Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024 As a result of the split, Sheboygan city residents play no deciding role in either of the two districts, which both lean heavily Republican. — Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024 Several people said the job fell to Tillis to convince enough Republican colleagues to vote in favor of the bill so no one person had to be the final deciding vote. — Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2022 The jurors in the Rittenhouse trial were overwhelmingly White not only in the original pool of 179 prospects but also in the final deciding panel of 12, where there was only one person of color. — Omar Jimenez, CNN, 23 Nov. 2021 Houck would be an obvious candidate to start again if the Sox are able to push this series to a fifth and deciding game. — BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2021

Verb

Release can begin with simply deciding not to keep feeding the same pattern. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026 Below, Forbes Coaches Council members share their advice for evaluating tough user feedback and deciding what to preserve, discard or rebuild. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 25 Sep. 2026 Despite the sequential improvement in membership renewal rates, Wall Street will need to see a few more solid results on this front before deciding Costco is out of the woods. — Zev Fima, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026 In fact, scholars of new religious movements have long recognized the difficulty of deciding where religion begins and ends. — Morgan Shipley, The Conversation, 21 Sep. 2026 Before deciding someone is reckless or overly cautious, look at what each of you is actually trying to protect. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026 The prospect of taking on the expense of another child gave the couple pause when deciding whether to grow their family. — Joe Hernandez, NPR, 20 Sep. 2026 The council on Monday will hold a public hearing followed by a vote deciding whether to revive the project amid financial pressure from state lawmakers. — Charlotte Observer, 20 Sep. 2026 Under Illinois law, judges deciding whether a defendant should remain jailed before trial evaluate the person's current risk to others rather than punish past conduct. — Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding

Adjective

As the margin for error narrows, management quality will become decisive.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 24 Sep. 2026
The declaration sees Carag’s battle against his former mentor enter a decisive phase.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 23 Sep. 2026

Definition of decisive

Verb

The digital campaign identifies Mayor Bryan Calvo and members of the Hialeah City Council as the decision makers responsible for determining the library’s fate.

— Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026
Just how useful the rankings are in determining the quality of a college is up for debate.

— Jason Armesto, AJC.com, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

Their attention to detail in the studio when arranging each member’s parts was like witnessing true geniuses at work.

— Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 24 Sep. 2026
In a clip first shared with Entertainment Weekly, the Oscar-winning filmmaker recalls arranging an appearance on Judge Judy involving the whole Spielberg clan — a 90th birthday gift to his late mother, Leah Adler, a huge fan of Sheindlin’s.

— Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2026

Definition of arranging

Verb

BlackRock was always in sight Both sides of Scotto’s family immigrated from Italy in 1905, settling first in Manhattan’s Little Italy before moving across the bridge to Brooklyn.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Penix 'settling in' during first half The Falcons ran out the clock at the end of the second quarter and are holding a 17-7 lead over the Packers at Lambeau Field.

— AJC.com, AJC.com, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of settling

Verb

There is just enough wry humor—think Shaun of the Dead—sprinkled throughout to keep things from getting too grim, often deriving from Bryan’s cluelessness and general lack of skills.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
The Chiefs finished dead last in the NFL with 362 yards deriving from explosive rushes last season.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of deriving

Adjective

To have or not to have pheromones Scientists have yet to find conclusive evidence about whether humans have or are able to detect pheromones.

— Devika Rao, TheWeek, 22 Sep. 2026
Despite the pitch of the cliff wall, Parrack found no conclusive evidence of where Bernadette had struck it.

— Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of conclusive

Verb

But here, too, Wladyka stumbles, opting for a comforting but pat ending about how dance and art enliven so many lives.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
Due to her injury, Rose was unable to complete the first task on Special Forces — falling out of a helicopter backwards and landing in a body of water — like the rest of her costars, opting to do the jump feet first.

— Sarah Hearon, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Sep. 2026