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
ABC News, 7 June 2026
Mayor Eric Johnson and city council members are getting closer to deciding what to do about Dallas City Hall.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Just like in their first World Cup triumph in 1954, West Germany went behind early in the deciding match.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Some of the best tennis players opt out of playing for their high schools, deciding to focus instead on private playing schedules, training and instruction while pursuing a possible collegiate scholarship or the prospect of playing professional tennis.
—Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Google has applied for a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the releases in California and Florida, for which the federal agency is currently seeking comments before deciding whether to grant approval.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
There was a bigger divide on another LGBTQ+ issue the court is still deciding — whether states can prevent transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Was this part of your thought process in deciding to do a season five?
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Material The construction material of an RV cover is an important factor when deciding how to protect your vehicle.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 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
And Indiana's attorney general has asked a federal appeals court to take note of the Louisiana case when deciding a challenge to how judges are selected in Lake County.
—ABC News, 7 June 2026
Mayor Eric Johnson and city council members are getting closer to deciding what to do about Dallas City Hall.
—Jack Fink, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Just like in their first World Cup triumph in 1954, West Germany went behind early in the deciding match.
—Will Jeanes, New York Times, 5 June 2026
Some of the best tennis players opt out of playing for their high schools, deciding to focus instead on private playing schedules, training and instruction while pursuing a possible collegiate scholarship or the prospect of playing professional tennis.
—Richard Dunn, Oc Register, 4 June 2026
Google has applied for a permit from the Environmental Protection Agency to carry out the releases in California and Florida, for which the federal agency is currently seeking comments before deciding whether to grant approval.
—Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026
There was a bigger divide on another LGBTQ+ issue the court is still deciding — whether states can prevent transgender women and girls from competing on female sports teams.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 4 June 2026
Was this part of your thought process in deciding to do a season five?
—Seija Rankin, HollywoodReporter, 4 June 2026
Material The construction material of an RV cover is an important factor when deciding how to protect your vehicle.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding
Adjective
-
In a decisive upset, Democrat John Forbes won his party’s nomination in the June 2 primary election for Polk County supervisor in District 1, unseating incumbent Matt McCoy.—
Virginia Barreda,
Des Moines Register,
3 June 2026
-
Because more than 70 percent of voters supported other candidates in the first round, both Fujimori and Sánchez have sought to broaden their appeal ahead of the decisive vote.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
When the fabric is right, your comfort is sure to follow — but choosing pieces that are also work-appropriate is trickier.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
-
The lack of clarity makes choosing a company potentially confusing for patients, and the medical profession is partly to blame, said Jamy Ard, an obesity doctor and researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The scientists analyzed their data further, determining that the red dwarf stars may have consumed the equivalent of three to ten Earths in planetary matter in total.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
29 May 2026
-
Test scores are just one data point that may be used in determining if a child should be held back, alongside classroom grades, teacher recommendations and attendance.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Ikebana flower arranging — Japan Ikebana, the traditional Japanese art of flower arranging, has been practiced since the late 15th century and remains deeply embedded in Japanese culture today.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
Ikebana flower arranging — Japan.—
Hanna Wickes,
Sacbee.com,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But just outside George Town, that same shoreline also supports residences built not for checking in, but settling in.—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
-
Ferraro’s Ristorante, Stage Door Casino, Battista’s Hole in the Wall, and Ellis Island all pursued legal action, with race officials ultimately settling each case out of court, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal.—
Madeline Coleman,
New York Times,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
But deriving a unified theory of volcanism will require a geologic Manhattan Project.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Lemongrass May Have Blood Pressure-Lowering Effects Though far from conclusive, there is scant evidence that lemongrass may exert beneficial effects on your blood pressure.—
MD Published,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2026
-
Data from Zillow was less conclusive, finding that only five out of the 10 cities saw a median rent increase by more than Los Angeles' 29%.—
Lindsay Kornick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
Officials are opting to negotiate a new deal with the utility company rather than automatically renewing the existing one, wrote Veronica McBeth, the city's director of transportation.—
CBS Baltimore Staff,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
Save yourself time and elbow grease by opting for slate, wood, or vinyl flooring that is water-resistant and easy to wipe off.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deciding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deciding. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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