Definition of resolutionnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word resolution distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of resolution are courage, mettle, spirit, and tenacity. While all these words mean "mental or moral strength to resist opposition, danger, or hardship," resolution stresses firm determination to achieve one's ends.

the resolution of pioneer women

When might courage be a better fit than resolution?

The words courage and resolution are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, courage implies firmness of mind and will in the face of danger or extreme difficulty.

the courage to support unpopular causes

When can mettle be used instead of resolution?

While in some cases nearly identical to resolution, mettle suggests an ingrained capacity for meeting strain or difficulty with fortitude and resilience.

a challenge that will test your mettle

When is spirit a more appropriate choice than resolution?

The synonyms spirit and resolution are sometimes interchangeable, but spirit also suggests a quality of temperament enabling one to hold one's own or keep up one's morale when opposed or threatened.

her spirit was unbroken by failure

How are the words tenacity and resolution related?

Tenacity adds to resolution implications of stubborn persistence and unwillingness to admit defeat.

held to their beliefs with great tenacity

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 resolution Markets have been pinballing between worries that the war will last a long time and hopes for a resolution because all the parties would benefit from a freer flow of crude oil. Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 In the Senate, Glenneda Zuiderveld took umbrage with a section in the resolution about cloud seeding, a type of weather modification that typically tries to increase the amount of rain or snow. Idaho Statesman, 13 Apr. 2026 After twenty-one hours, the negotiations ended without resolution. Robin Wright, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026 The timeline for a resolution on Capitol Hill is unclear. Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resolution
Noun
  • New Zealand was awarded a penalty in first half stoppage time after Maya Hahn was brought down in the box but the decision was overturned after the officials considered replays for more than five minutes.
    ABC News, ABC News, 15 Apr. 2026
  • According to the agenda, the Board of Managers will discuss behind closed doors the decision not to renew or terminate certain contracts, then take up a public vote.
    Lacey Beasley, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The downside is gas cooktops are harder to clean and might affect household air quality negatively, although using a proper hood vent resolves that.
    Marni Jameson, Arkansas Online, 10 Apr. 2026
  • But entering the war enabled a weakened Houthi movement to signal resolve, military capacity and commitment to its alliance with Iran, just as Yemen continues to face an economic and severe humanitarian crisis.
    Ioana Emy Matesan, The Conversation, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • In the end, though, what made the verdict remarkable was the relative ordinariness of Kaley’s story.
    Jeannie Suk Gersen, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Konig stood as the jury’s foreperson announced the verdict, then closed his eyes and lowered his face.
    Jennifer Sinco Kelleher, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Use that Martian heat to scaffold your own determination, strengthening you to handle long-term commitment.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
  • No stadium lights, no sponsors, just sheer determination.
    Hannah Kliger, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Five of the rulings came after the advisory opinion was published.
    The New Yorker, New Yorker, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Indeed, in my opinion, Hersh — who is also an accomplished solo artist, an acclaimed author and the leader of another rock band called 50 Foot Wave — might just be the most fascinating person in all of music.
    Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 13 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After all, confidence and decisiveness are hallmark traits of executive presence, a quality long sought by boards, taught at top business schools, and used at performance review time as a catch-all descriptor to either promote or shelve C-suite hopefuls.
    Harvard Business Review, Harvard Business Review, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Caine, and the head of Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, have been models of clarity, calm, and decisiveness.
    Eliot A. Cohen, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The election could mark the conclusion of this chapter in Hungary’s democratic struggle, or else the start of a grim new one.
    Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2026
  • Before season 5's launch, the streamer renewed the hit series for a sixth and final season, which will bring the space saga to a fitting conclusion after a successful run as one of Apple TV's earliest exclusives.
    Jeff Spry, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Resolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resolution. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.

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