DELIBERATE Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'deliberate' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of deliberate are intentional , voluntary , and willing . While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences. // deliberate acts of sabotage

Q: When is 'intentional' a more appropriate choice than 'deliberate'?

The meanings of intentional and deliberate largely overlap; however, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved. // the intentional concealment of vital information

Q: When is it sensible to use 'voluntary' instead of 'deliberate'?

In some situations, the words voluntary and deliberate are roughly equivalent. However, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion. // a voluntary confession

Q: Where would 'willing' be a reasonable alternative to 'deliberate'?

While the synonyms willing and deliberate are close in meaning, willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another. // willing obedience

deliberate 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈli-bə-rət

Definition of deliberate

as in considered

decided on as a result of careful thought the judge made a deliberate decision to impose the maximum sentence

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in conscious

made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing a deliberate act of vandalism that should not go unpunished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deliberate

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈli-bə-ˌrāt

as in to contemplate

to give serious and careful thought to the jury deliberated the case for three days before returning a verdict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deliberate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of deliberate are intentional, voluntary, and willing. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is intentional a more appropriate choice than deliberate?

The meanings of intentional and deliberate largely overlap; however, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When is it sensible to use voluntary instead of deliberate?

In some situations, the words voluntary and deliberate are roughly equivalent. However, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Where would willing be a reasonable alternative to deliberate?

While the synonyms willing and deliberate are close in meaning, willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

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 deliberate

Adjective

Setting up is pretty simple – and this was clearly a deliberate choice. — New Atlas, 17 Sep. 2026 The decision to keep the building to just three homes was deliberate. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

As the two courts deliberate, ACIP has been in limbo and has not met. — Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Sep. 2026 On Friday, Judge William Sullivan declared a mistrial at Plymouth Superior Court after the jury deliberating whether Clancy was criminally responsible for the strangulation deaths of her three children said it was deadlocked three times. — Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deliberate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deliberate

Adjective

And Moke was no longer a considered tropical cyclone after skirting Hawaii as a tropical storm, the center said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
Others have a tight, considered design, especially the islands meant to highlight a specific weapon or gadget.

— Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 23 July 2026

Definition of considered

Adjective

By putting the spa before the staterooms, this design flips the superyacht script from conspicuous consumption to conscious longevity.

— Chrissie McClatchie, Robb Report, 19 Sep. 2026
For years, Connecticut’s position atop the list of states with the priciest electric bills has served as an election-year mantra for Republicans and other critics of the state’s climate-conscious energy strategy.

— John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of conscious

Verb

As shareholders contemplate which side to back in the ongoing vote, the only thing clear at this point is that the friendship between Garg and Lewis is officially lost, according to both parties.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026
With local cops, plagued by rumors of departmental misdeeds, looking for a peaceful solution and federal authorities contemplating extreme action, the situation escalates.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of contemplate

Adjective

Those lucky enough to make it aboard became a test audience for two brand comebacks, each fiercely looking to win over a younger generation before betting on a much bigger, more calculated swing.

— Antonio Ferme, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
Despite his lifelong fandom, fans still see Stearns as a cold-hearted, calculated executive who enjoys sending their favorite players packing.

— Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of calculated

Adjective

The Show-Me State is also one of 24 states that doesn’t have right-to-work laws, which is key to guarantee union membership and financial support are voluntary for workers.

— Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 22 Sep. 2026
Given that personal insistence, the election – in which 49 veterans of the Ukraine war were elected – is more likely to be used as evidence that Russia rewards its soldiers with plum political jobs, as a means of boosting voluntary recruitment.

— Matthew Chance, CNN Money, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of voluntary

Verb

Viewers can ponder Dunham’s dramatic stylistic shift from abstract forms to cartoonish figurative images through the exhibition’s 50 career-spanning works.

— Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2026
In the stands, fans murmured beneath their breath, wondering what new math the Kiffin’s successor could be pondering.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of ponder

Adjective

In layman’s terms, critical thinking is the ability to think independently by questioning claims, weighing evidence, and making reasoned judgments.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
None are credible challengers; Matt Conroy is the more reasoned and moderate of the three.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of reasoned

Adjective

In his dissent, Scalia argued that the ESA was written narrowly to prohibit the intentional hunting and killing of vulnerable animals, not to broadly protect species at the population level.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
Punkt pairs intentional use with privacy, while Mudita centers mindful living and E Ink displays.

— Ashley Lynch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of intentional

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“Deliberate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deliberate. Accessed 26 Sep. 2026.

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