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
1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arranging
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 settling
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 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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deciding
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
Playoff baseball is never easy. Shelby County knows that all too well following a highly-competitive deciding game against a fresh-faced St. Paul’s squad with rally blood pumping through its veins.
—Evan Dudley, al, 23 Apr. 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
Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Bowman noted the authority is guided by state law and case law in its decisions and deciding what is just and reasonable by a preponderance of evidence.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Local communities, not federal bureaucrats, deciding what enters their own marketplace is not a radical idea.
—Jesse Plunkett, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Maybe the Knicks played with their food for the first three games of this series before deciding to barbecue the Hawks in Game 4.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Covered by the media of all 32 teams who are also sitting in rooms, deciding who teams should pick.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Hitting coach Derek Shomon had a tough time deciding a favorite Murakami home run.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Savers who need immediate cash access in an emergency should account for this transfer lag when sizing their emergency fund or deciding whether to supplement their high-yield savings account with a checking account at the same institution.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Consult with two or three other legal representatives before deciding whom to use.
—Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
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
Playoff baseball is never easy. Shelby County knows that all too well following a highly-competitive deciding game against a fresh-faced St. Paul’s squad with rally blood pumping through its veins.
—Evan Dudley, al, 23 Apr. 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
Now, the longtime CEO wakes up to a blank outlook calendar; Hartz sold her company in a $500 million exit, and is deciding on her next chapter in the wake of parting ways with her brainchild.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 May 2026
Bowman noted the authority is guided by state law and case law in its decisions and deciding what is just and reasonable by a preponderance of evidence.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 2 May 2026
Local communities, not federal bureaucrats, deciding what enters their own marketplace is not a radical idea.
—Jesse Plunkett, The Orlando Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Maybe the Knicks played with their food for the first three games of this series before deciding to barbecue the Hawks in Game 4.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 1 May 2026
Covered by the media of all 32 teams who are also sitting in rooms, deciding who teams should pick.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 1 May 2026
Hitting coach Derek Shomon had a tough time deciding a favorite Murakami home run.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
Savers who need immediate cash access in an emergency should account for this transfer lag when sizing their emergency fund or deciding whether to supplement their high-yield savings account with a checking account at the same institution.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 1 May 2026
Consult with two or three other legal representatives before deciding whom to use.
—Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding
Adjective
-
These results were championed as the country’s official victory over the virus and a decisive win for those advocating for digital vaccination credential systems.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
After scoring a decisive goal in Buffalo’s series-clinching win against Boston in Game 6, Benson was all over the ice in the first period against Montreal.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Having Last Driver be such a vehicular-centric book led him to being open to changing up its reading style and choosing to put it out in a landscape format.—
Borys Kit,
HollywoodReporter,
8 May 2026
-
People are building scent wardrobes, not just choosing a single signature.—
Fairchild Studio,
Footwear News,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The California Department of Housing and Community Development sets general housing goals for a region, determining how many units at what affordability levels are necessary.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
The judge also made clear the scope of a preliminary hearing is limited, focused on whether prosecutors can establish probable cause, not determining guilt or innocence, but said the defense still needs sufficient time to prepare given the volume of material.—
Adam Sabes , Stepheny Price,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Such pairings are one of Wilson’s strengths, his eye for portraiture matched by his skill for arranging images on the page.—
Casey Cep,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
-
Others kick things up by arranging private beach bonfires in the evening, catamaran outings by day, surf lessons with Engstrom Surf, and even customized tarot card readings.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Harvey Vaile had commissioned the house for his wife but never finished settling in, abandoning designs for the top floor after Sophia Vaile fatally overdosed on laudanum while Harvey was on trial.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 May 2026
-
Sardinian bandits sometimes fought back with their own sense of justice, settling matters through raids, kidnappings, and violence.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The very legitimacy of deriving general principles from the particulars of experience can never be established from experience without already having the principle in hand.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And yes, the replay should be conclusive.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
While there is little conclusive, specific data on the relationship between mortality and long-term medication treatment, studies show that, in general, longer treatment durations yield better outcomes.—
Lev Facher,
STAT,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Others are opting for restorative practices, which emphasize group conversations where students share feelings and perspectives to build community and resolve conflict.—
Stacker,
Hartford Courant,
9 May 2026
-
The practice is now common in gyms, wellness resorts and hotels across the United States, with some people preferring structured spa environments and others opting for lakes, oceans or other outdoor settings.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deciding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deciding. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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