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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decisive
Shortly after, Ethan Feng delivered one of the most decisive performances of the day, cruising to a 5-and-4 triumph over Stuart Grehan and widening the gap on the scoreboard.
—
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
And that’s the point where there’s a real chance that the Democrats could claim a pretty decisive electoral victory and yet fail to retake the House, or only barely retake it.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Kim had two hits in his Braves debut Tuesday and a decisive three-run homer in the seventh inning of a 5-1 win Wednesday, the first homer by a Braves shortstop this season.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Loyalty to the leader rather than to the country becomes the decisive factor in key positions that are designed to be independent and maintain the balance power.
—Ron Scherf, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
And that’s the point where there’s a real chance that the Democrats could claim a pretty decisive electoral victory and yet fail to retake the House, or only barely retake it.
—Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Kim had two hits in his Braves debut Tuesday and a decisive three-run homer in the seventh inning of a 5-1 win Wednesday, the first homer by a Braves shortstop this season.
—David O'Brien, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Loyalty to the leader rather than to the country becomes the decisive factor in key positions that are designed to be independent and maintain the balance power.
—Ron Scherf, Time, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decisive
Adjective
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These days, Pynchon is a resolute New Yorker.—
John Lopez,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Sep. 2025
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Their response to the player’s incendiary statement last week was to release their own extraordinary one and become even more resolute in their position regarding a transfer.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The findings were intriguing, but not conclusive.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 Sep. 2025
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Trans athletes and their advocates, meanwhile, say there is a lack of consistent, conclusive research to support this claim and argue trans people deserve the right to compete with their peers.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Ditto the Hammer Studios output of the 1950s and ’60s, Bernie Wrightson’s definitive illustrations of the Creature, oodles of Gothic literature, Roger Corman’s Poe pictures, and Mario Bava’s retina-searing color creep shows.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
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Forbes today unveils its 44th annual Forbes 400 list, the definitive ranking of the wealthiest Americans.—
Forbes Press Releases,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Saúl is a fixture at his father's bouts and already seems determined to follow in his father’s footsteps.—
Nasha Smith,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
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Her flippers, each more than two feet long, scooped out sand and flung it to her sides in slow, determined strokes.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program has been active since 2010, compelling more than 8,000 facilities and suppliers in the United States to report their climate pollution every year, and uses the data to help shape rules to reduce the amount of pollution in the air.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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For a daily driver, the third-generation Leaf is rather compelling, especially the S+, although the lack of heated front seats in that model might be too much of a deal-breaker, considering how important seat heaters are to EV efficiency in winter.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Five meetings and nine months have elapsed since the Fed last adjusted interest rates.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
13 Sep. 2025
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Elsewhere, she’s opted for sequin sea blue Balenciaga, and chose a sparkling structural Alexander McQueen gown for last year’s BAFTAs.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This ruthless cartel is intent on cashing in, permeating our communities with their poison, with no regard to human suffering.—
Jon Haworth,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
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Today, many companies seem intent on convincing consumers of debit’s coolness.—
Michael Waters,
The Atlantic,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Moreno said Echevarría’s lawyers failed to provide convincing evidence that Expedia Group facilitated the bookings and that the holding company could not be held liable for the actions of its subsidiary.—
Nora Gamez Torres,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
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Their good cop-bad cop ploy doesn’t seem to be particularly convincing or even fear-inspiring to the suspects of the congregation.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decisive. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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