determinative

Definition of determinativenext

Synonym Chooser

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

Some common synonyms of determinative are conclusive, decisive, and definitive. While all these words mean "bringing to an end," determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

the determinative factor in the court's decision

When could conclusive be used to replace determinative?

The words conclusive and determinative can be used in similar contexts, but conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

conclusive evidence

When might decisive be a better fit than determinative?

Although the words decisive and determinative have much in common, decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

a decisive battle

Where would definitive be a reasonable alternative to determinative?

While in some cases nearly identical to determinative, definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

the definitive biography

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 determinative But, ultimately, the president would not play a determinative role in interest rate decisions. Sarah Fortinsky, The Hill, 14 Dec. 2025 But that factor would not be determinative alone. Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 One is determinative, and the architects of that story already know the morality contained in the story, with the objective to lay out a moral system. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025 North Carolina, often considered determinative in recent presidential contests, could offer a bellwether for national trends as both major parties consider their direction and platform for 2028. Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for determinative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for determinative
Adjective
  • In both cases, the parties have until May 17, 2027, to file dispositive motions seeking to resolve each case without a trial.
    Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026
  • However, Burke noted that the relationship between Liaw and the current co-founders are relevant, but not determinative or dispositive.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 5 May 2026
Adjective
  • Michelle Obama’s indisputable exceptional leadership provided a public example of the Black female leadership that was already ingrained.
    Jallicia Jolly, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Indeed, Brian has created hundreds of billions in value for his shareholders and his legacy as one of the greatest business builders and dealmakers of our time is indisputable.
    Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • Knowing the difference between determinate or indeterminate tomatoes.
    Patricia S York, Southern Living, 22 June 2026
  • Compassionate release emerged from the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, a statute better known for eliminating parole and ushering in the modern era of determinate sentencing.
    Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026
Adjective
  • Funnyman, vulgarian, auteur — Mel Brooks’s imprint on American cinema is incontestable yet scandalously undervalued.
    Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 26 June 2026
  • The mark was federally registered in 2015 and has since achieved incontestable status, a legal designation that strengthens ownership rights.
    Bryan West, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • That must be the unquestionable goal for next season.
    Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 27 May 2026
  • Nonetheless, its power is unquestionable.
    Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • For the American, the loss carries an undeniable silver lining.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 July 2026
  • The potential productivity gains are undeniable; the rate of change is massive.
    Catherine Bell, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • Reporting on the Holocaust tested Grossman’s attention to character, replacing the gray zone of Soviet morality with irrefutable villains and victims.
    Madeleine Wulfahrt, New Yorker, 8 July 2026
  • Organizations that embed deep, scientific inquiry into their commercial DNA can not only disrupt existing markets but also engineer entirely new ones based on the irrefutable laws of physics.
    Alexandra Vidyuk, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • As a result, mathematical truths do not make up a unified whole of equally indubitable truths; instead, their status as knowledge varies gradually from doubtless facts to increasingly uncertain hypotheses.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 18 May 2026
  • The second route, and the route that makes indubitable sense, entails using the techniques and methods of psychology to gauge the performance of AI.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Determinative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determinative. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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