as in determinative
providing or controlling a final outcome
The fact that she committed a crime is not dispositive of her claim that the police used excessive force in arresting her.
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Recent Examples of dispositive
Responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of litigation assignments from case initiation and answer, plus discovery, dispositive motion practice, trial and appeals.
—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
july 10, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
Read More: Why Food Chemicals Are a Problem—And How to Reduce Your Exposure
That’s not to say genes are entirely dispositive; having genes associated with the condition does not mean a child will inevitably develop it.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
The simple fact that American technology companies are some of the largest companies in the world and thus will necessarily see larger levies is not dispositive of some sort of anti-American bias.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispositive
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
july 10, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2025
Read More: Why Food Chemicals Are a Problem—And How to Reduce Your Exposure
That’s not to say genes are entirely dispositive; having genes associated with the condition does not mean a child will inevitably develop it.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
The simple fact that American technology companies are some of the largest companies in the world and thus will necessarily see larger levies is not dispositive of some sort of anti-American bias.
—Andrew Leahey, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispositive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispositive
Adjective
-
Court composition is of course not determinative.—
London Business School,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Among the elderly, having difficulty bathing is as grimly determinative of mortality as having heart failure.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
4 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Smaller tomato plants of the determinate type can add a splash of color while not overtaking the garden space.—
Special to The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
19 Aug. 2025
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The length of the harvest window for slicing tomatoes depends on whether the plant is determinate or indeterminate.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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Barrett's clear statement on the 22nd Amendment carries significant weight given her position on the Supreme Court, which would likely be asked to rule on any attempt to circumvent the two-term limit.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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Investigators found notebooks filled with hate, violent thoughts and admiration for mass murderers, showing clear signs of deep mental instability.—
Oren Oppenheim,
ABC News,
9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The geranium and the gingko tree yield data but no conclusive results.—
Stephanie Bunbury,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
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But there are some good supporting turns, starting with Henry, Tony’s main Interpol contact, who appears from early episodes to be a good guy the leads are mistaking for a bad guy, although nothing is completely conclusive there right away.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dispositive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispositive. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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