DETERMINE Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'determine' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of determine are decide , resolve , rule , and settle . While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something. // determined the cause of the problem

Q: When is it sensible to use 'decide' instead of 'determine'?

The words decide and determine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy. // she decided to sell her house

Q: When might 'resolve' be a better fit than 'determine'?

The synonyms resolve and determine are sometimes interchangeable, but resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something. // he resolved to quit smoking

Q: When would 'rule' be a good substitute for 'determine'?

The meanings of rule and determine largely overlap; however, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority. // the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

Q: When can 'settle' be used instead of 'determine'?

Although the words settle and determine have much in common, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty. // the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

determine

verb

di-ˈtər-mən

Definition of determine

as in to decide

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) a three-member panel will determine the case

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to choose

to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration trying to determine which direction we were facing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to find

to come upon after searching, study, or effort we failed to determine the answer to the riddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to conclude

to come to an end your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to settle

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute your choice of college could determine the rest of your life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb determine differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of determine are decide, resolve, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When is it sensible to use decide instead of determine?

The words decide and determine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When might resolve be a better fit than determine?

The synonyms resolve and determine are sometimes interchangeable, but resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

When would rule be a good substitute for determine?

The meanings of rule and determine largely overlap; however, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

When can settle be used instead of determine?

Although the words settle and determine have much in common, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

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 determine The specific restrictions and exceptions have yet to be determined. — Charlotte Observer, 4 Nov. 2026 All eyes were on the results Tuesday night in the high-stakes election, in which House and Senate races will determine the balance of power in Congress. — Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 The subcommittee will select one candidate to be considered when the Hall's selection committee determines a new class of enshrinees in early 2027. — CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026 Investigators on Wednesday were still determining whether the shooting and stabbing were related. — Darrell Smith, Sacbee.com, 4 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for determine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for determine

Verb

Days after the midterm elections, Proposition 40 has yet to be decided.

— Vanessa Martínez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026
Find out what’s possible, then decide whether to participate.

— Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of decide

Verb

Hormones aren’t the only treatments Some patients choose not to take full-body hormonal medications or are advised by their doctors to avoid them because of their medical histories or conditions.

— Laura Ungar, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026
With so many electrolyte products out there, choosing the right one is a challenge in and of itself — and the answer really depends on your needs, Efird says.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of choose

Verb

From his emergence in the mid-1950s until his passing in 2018, Taylor not only disassembled jazz and reconstructed it in his own style, but also found ways to make the world listen.

— Levi Dayan, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
Police previously said investigators found no evidence of an actual plan to carry out violence at the school.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

The battle between Bass and Raman ends Tuesday, concluding a bitter nine-month contest between two candidates who were once political allies.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2026
The researchers concluded that the dinosaur likely lived off a diet consisting largely of fleshy fruits produced by flowering plants, also known as angiosperms.

— Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of conclude

Verb

How to Quit Smoking finds Fike at 30, now a dad and still figuring a lot of things out.

— Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 3 Nov. 2026
So, sure, the Chiefs might figure to be revived soon with their next three games against the New York Jets (2-6), Atlanta Falcons (3-5) and Arizona Cardinals (3-5).

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of figure

Verb

In it, a young kid traverses New Orleans to fish, goes door to door selling his game, and learns how to drive, among other things.

— Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
Regardless, there’s a fascinating swing from FOMO (fear of missing out) to JOMO (joy of missing out), and today’s women are learning that alone time is important for personal growth.

— Cheryl Fenton, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of learn

Verb

That said, some conditions that fully heal or are free of treatment and symptoms for a certain period of time may stop being labeled as pre-existing, depending on the provider.

— Matt Richardson, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Fowler later diagnosed her as comatose before a deputy commissioner ordered the execution stopped.

— Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of stop

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“Determine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determine. Accessed 8 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of determine

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