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 That announcement came less than a week after the Illinois legislature adjourned for the summer without coming to a resolution on last-ditch efforts in the House and Senate to keep the franchise in Illinois. Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The End of Oak Street is a hoot and a half, but its resolutions yield far more questions than actual answers. Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026 In full 360 mode, the X6 records everything around you at up to 8K resolution at 50 frames per second, so framing can happen later during the edit. New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2026 Nakagiri proposed the resolution to bring the Opioid Free America program to Livingston County. Elle Meyers, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for resolution
Recent Examples of Synonyms for resolution
Noun
  • World soccer governing body FIFA, which organizes the World Cup, said immigration decisions were the purview of host countries for the tournament.
    Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026
  • And, Congress declined to maintain subsidies that Americans buying coverage through health insurance exchanges receive, a decision that has already caused many to let their coverage lapse.
    Paul Sisson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • D’Arcy closes the window with an air of steely resolve, and in doing so declares the Rhaenyra who might have mourned her half-sister as dead and gone.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026
  • For most healthy individuals, no specific treatment is given since the disease is usually self-limiting and resolves in a couple of days.
    Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Most appeals come after a case has concluded with a ruling or a verdict.
    Reuters, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Bäck’s film prefers untidy personal drama to a tidy moral verdict.
    Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • This time in a poll, every juror said the verdict was his or her individual determination.
    Emerson Clarridge, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026
  • But many of the players said the hurdle only fueled their determination to pursue the sport through other avenues.
    Jaclyn Licht, NPR, 8 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Advisors and travel executives attending Virtuoso Travel Week, which is being held this week in Las Vegas, have diverse opinions and experiences.
    Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Public and political interests and opinions can shift quickly, which Fleming says could impact whether other companies make future ventures into psychedelics.
    Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 11 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • Leaders often face dangerous blind spots, not from incompetence, but from strengths like confidence and decisiveness becoming liabilities.
    Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • This perhaps was the England football team’s own equivalent, for the decisiveness, for the individuality of it, and above all for the power.
    Jack Pitt-Brooke, New York Times, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Some estimates were too imprecise to support a firm conclusion, and previous longitudinal studies have reported links between loneliness, isolation and physical illness.
    The Conversation US, Scientific American, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The Rose Bowl Aquatics Center will close April 1, and not be returned to its regular users until the fall of 2028, after the conclusion of the Olympic Games.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Resolution.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/resolution. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on resolution

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster