1
as in resolute
fully committed to achieving a goal
only a team with a decisive attitude is going to win a state championship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in conclusive
having the power to persuade
a lawyer who knows how to construct the kind of decisive argument that sways a jury
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in definitive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning
the decisive finding of the coroner regarding the cause of death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decisive
Boston controlled the margins, holding decisive edges in points off turnovers, offensive rebounding and second-chance points.
—
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
If the hope among Democrats for a decisive blue wave in the 2026 midterms has a chance of coming to pass, the party would likely have to win difficult House contests in redder parts of the country.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Mustangs earned resume-building wins over Butler, Mississippi State and Texas A&M before opening conference play with a decisive 97-83 win over the Tar Heels.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Bazaaris, the merchant class, played a decisive role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and in earlier movements such as the 1906 Constitutional Revolution.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 6 Jan. 2026
If the hope among Democrats for a decisive blue wave in the 2026 midterms has a chance of coming to pass, the party would likely have to win difficult House contests in redder parts of the country.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
The Mustangs earned resume-building wins over Butler, Mississippi State and Texas A&M before opening conference play with a decisive 97-83 win over the Tar Heels.
—Lia Assimakopoulos, Dallas Morning News, 5 Jan. 2026
Bazaaris, the merchant class, played a decisive role in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and in earlier movements such as the 1906 Constitutional Revolution.
—Washington Post, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decisive
Adjective
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But Sarah remains resolute, Bert tamps down his desire to make a quick buck — for a while, at least — and the situation starts to draw national attention, thanks to the involvement of a white civil rights attorney and a Black reporter from up north.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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Despite his anger, the woman remained confused but resolute.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Though home blood pressure monitors are effective, a healthcare provider can provide more accurate and conclusive results.—
Mark Gurarie,
Verywell Health,
6 Nov. 2025
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Despite numerous conclusive assessments that the Saudi regime planned and perpetrated Khashoggi’s murder, the high-level officials who ordered his execution have gone unpunished, six years on.—
Scott Griffen,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The testing process is built for speed and discretion, delivering a definitive answer in approximately two minutes.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Without any definitive answers just yet, there's been lots of speculation in the local press, including questions about whether the couple were murdered or died by suicide.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Left in the dark Early in the pandemic, Florida was determined to keep a lid of secrecy on the spread of COVID-19 in long-term care facilities.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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In a landscape of fear and scarcity, where basic ingredients are nearly impossible to find, Lamia sets out on a determined journey throughout the big city in search of eggs, flour and sugar.—
Carole Horst,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Department stores still have to make a compelling case for consumers to come back.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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North Carolina is renowned for its music, creativity, and breathtaking mountain views, but its large-scale artworks offer another compelling reason to visit the state.—
Jennifer Prince,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Adebayo, who missed only four games last season, sat out for the first time this season with a sprained left big toe.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
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The trauma of last weekend will require patient rehabilitation and mental care.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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More than anything, O’Leary is intent on branding himself a champion of capitalism.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
2 Jan. 2026
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The members of NewJeans had originally seemed intent on appealing the decision before ultimately deciding to open up talks of a return with Ador.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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The Gators found their offensive flow and applied the defensive clamps against the high-scoring Bulldogs during a convincing and pivotal 92-77 win Tuesday night at the O’Connell Center.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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After pulling away in the second half, Old Rochester continued building league momentum with a convincing 54-32 victory.—
Zach McMahon,
Boston Herald,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decisive. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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