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

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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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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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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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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

People are finding little ways to be whimsical by taking up crafts, going to pottery classes, picking up analogue hobbies, or bedazzling their plastic sippers and deciding that counts. — Sonal Nain, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2026 Wickliffe has become Cleveland’s version of the Rams’ Aaron Donald as far as deciding to return to the football field at the last minute and test himself. — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026 An industry that polices itself The federal government often takes an active role in deciding what is safe for the public. — Garance Burke, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026 The result is a small, hyper-engaged fraction of the electorate deciding our city’s leadership in low-turnout primaries. — Denis Hughes, New York Daily News, 7 Nov. 2026 Boise State’s path to a playoff berth runs through the final four regular-season games plus the Pac-12 title game, with Oregon State looming as the toughest test and potentially deciding championship game hosting rights. — Shaun Goodwin. Produced With Ai Assistance, Idaho Statesman, 7 Nov. 2026 He was attended to on the bench before finally deciding to go to the room, wincing on his way down the front of the bench. — Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 7 Nov. 2026 Look at your own commitments before deciding what contribution is realistic. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026 But understanding an individual property’s risks matters for residents figuring out how to protect a home, and for local officials deciding where limited flood-protection money should go. — Dylan Connor, The Conversation, 2 Nov. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding

Adjective

Democrats ousted Republicans from coast to coast, with many surprising places in between, in a decisive rejection of unified GOP control for the promise of something different for the country.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
Democrats' decisive midterm wins are already making an impact on the economy and the markets — especially on real estate.

— Christopher Farley, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of decisive

Verb

For a young scientist, choosing a career in research requires confidence that years of training will lead to an opportunity to contribute.

— Carole LaBonne, Washington Post, 8 Nov. 2026
For a seller choosing a grader, that established resale demand can outweigh a competitor’s lower fees or faster turnaround times.

— Matthew Tan, CNBC, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of choosing

Verb

The bigger shift will arguably come from AI, determining the future winners and losers.

— Mohammed Sergie, semafor.com, 3 Nov. 2026
Several races in the region are expected to play a key role in determining whether the House and Senate swing from the GOP to the Democrats.

— Daily News Staff, New York Daily News, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

The painting was only recently revealed to the family at the end of her aunt's life when arranging her affairs.

— CBS News, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
His organization, Protect Paws, has reportedly helped more than 1,500 stray dogs by arranging for medical treatment, vaccinations and reflective collars.

— Kamala Thiagarajan, NPR, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of arranging

Verb

Even before settling in Windsor, Harry and Meghan lived at Nottingham Cottage, within the Kensington Palace complex.

— Stefania Conrieri, Vanity Fair, 6 Nov. 2026
Installing a garden fence or covering your garden during the winter can help discourage them from settling there.

— Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 5 Nov. 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

Bailey’s findings are compelling but shouldn’t be considered conclusive, cautions Richard Blakemore, maritime history professor at the University of Reading in the United Kingdom who also wasn’t involved with Bailey’s work.

— ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
The evidence is intriguing but not conclusive, historians caution; Jones was a common name, and the records do not definitively establish his role.

— Philip Marcelo, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of conclusive

Verb

The album mostly abandons the saxophone, the instrument Gendel is known for, instead opting for Auto-Tuned rap, glitchy R&B, and corroded 808s.

— Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
In the United States, measles — eradicated in the year 2000, is back because parents are opting not to vaccinate their kids.

— Marc Silver, NPR, 6 Nov. 2026