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
In transactions with foreign capital participation, these questions can become dispositive.
—
Alexandrine Armstrong-Cerfontaine, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
However, and most importantly, no one should be deported or kept in custody without a neutral hearing for a dispositive decision to be reached, with legal counsel being made available to represent them.
—James P. Gray, Oc Register, 1 Nov. 2025
Fitzgerald proposed a schedule that includes filing dispositive motions by October 20 and briefs by November 20.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The results will be the same in terms of the estate tax and dispositive scheme implications as in the above example, but now, whatever is inherited will face a capital gains tax on sale.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispositive
Alexandrine Armstrong-Cerfontaine, Fortune, 25 Nov. 2025
However, and most importantly, no one should be deported or kept in custody without a neutral hearing for a dispositive decision to be reached, with legal counsel being made available to represent them.
—James P. Gray, Oc Register, 1 Nov. 2025
Fitzgerald proposed a schedule that includes filing dispositive motions by October 20 and briefs by November 20.
—Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
The results will be the same in terms of the estate tax and dispositive scheme implications as in the above example, but now, whatever is inherited will face a capital gains tax on sale.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for dispositive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispositive
Adjective
-
Trump’s endorsement was helpful but not determinative.—
Joe Garofoli,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
-
They’ve rarely been determinative in elections — El Paso County casts around 4% of the Democratic vote — but could matter in a close Senate race and in the Gonzales primary.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Smaller bush-type, or determinate, tomatoes can survive without support, but staking can help in the long run.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
19 Apr. 2026
-
This is why Rubens recommends focusing on determinate varieties of tomatoes.—
Michelle Mastro,
The Spruce,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Focus on one task, one conversation, one clear outcome at a time.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Amid increasingly dire reports, a growing body of pilot projects and best practices is also beginning to emerge, though clear direction on how to scale them remains elusive.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
As in the less conclusive first season, it feels engineered to deliver the characters to happy, or relatively happy, endings, and to send viewers out not regretting their investment of time.—
Robert Lloyd,
Boston Herald,
19 Apr. 2026
-
As in the less conclusive first season, it feels engineered to deliver the characters to happy, or relatively happy, endings, and to send viewers out not regretting their investment of time.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dispositive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispositive. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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