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
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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
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Court composition is of course not determinative.—
London Business School,
Forbes.com,
1 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Most determinate tomatoes will have produced the bulk of their fruit within a short window, often before summer ends.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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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
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 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
Cite this Entry
“Dispositive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispositive. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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