1
as in deep
firmly established over time
a remote village with a settled distrust of outsiders
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stable
having been established and usually not subject to change
settled rules that cannot be disregarded when it is convenient to do so
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in filtered
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in populated
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in decided
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arranged
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in perched
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in lodged
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in calmed
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in contained
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in paid
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in determined
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 settled
Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Of course the categories may overlap, but many of the young people in Astoria or Ridgewood-Bushwick have grown up in their parents’ homes in more settled parts of the city.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Erin Simkin—Netflix Advertisement Under Konner and Kaplan, Nobody Wants This has grown into a more settled and expansive show.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Howe’s first-choice midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton was both very settled and very, very good.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
After Hall converted a loose ball off a Kahlina miscue in the 81st — the goalkeeper’s one blemish in an otherwise commanding night — Goodwin settled things with a second goal in stoppage time.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
After the overnight speculative panic from a fortnight ago that shot oil prices across the board to nearly $120 per barrel in the early premarket trading hours of March 9, oil prices quickly settled back down to $100.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
After two years on tour—with his profile and ranking skyrocketing in the last 12 months—Fonseca seems to have both leveled up and settled in.
—Nick Remsen, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026
Just like that, before most fans had even settled into the tournament, 40% of all brackets were already busted.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
If the Twins have six spots, more or less, settled — Banda, Rogers, Funderburk, Cole Sands, Justin Topa and Eric Orze — that still leaves two remaining.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
The result is a house that feels settled and ready, without asking anything of its next owner.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit was settled in 2022 for over $105 million.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
Jacobs launched Marc by Marc Jacobs in 2001, cementing his eventual status as a fashion mogul — and, at moments throughout his career, as a kind of enfant terrible who, as it’s shown in this documentary, has cooled down a bit, more settled and reflective in his late career.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
Of course the categories may overlap, but many of the young people in Astoria or Ridgewood-Bushwick have grown up in their parents’ homes in more settled parts of the city.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Erin Simkin—Netflix Advertisement Under Konner and Kaplan, Nobody Wants This has grown into a more settled and expansive show.
—Esther Zuckerman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025
Howe’s first-choice midfield of Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joelinton was both very settled and very, very good.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
After the Heat settled itself, Durant nailed two threes, the second of which moved him past Michael Jordan into fifth on the NBA’s all-time scoring list.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2026
After Hall converted a loose ball off a Kahlina miscue in the 81st — the goalkeeper’s one blemish in an otherwise commanding night — Goodwin settled things with a second goal in stoppage time.
—Colin Cerniglia, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
After the overnight speculative panic from a fortnight ago that shot oil prices across the board to nearly $120 per barrel in the early premarket trading hours of March 9, oil prices quickly settled back down to $100.
—Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 20 Mar. 2026
After two years on tour—with his profile and ranking skyrocketing in the last 12 months—Fonseca seems to have both leveled up and settled in.
—Nick Remsen, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2026
Just like that, before most fans had even settled into the tournament, 40% of all brackets were already busted.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Mar. 2026
If the Twins have six spots, more or less, settled — Banda, Rogers, Funderburk, Cole Sands, Justin Topa and Eric Orze — that still leaves two remaining.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 20 Mar. 2026
The result is a house that feels settled and ready, without asking anything of its next owner.
—Miriam Schwartz, Boston Herald, 20 Mar. 2026
The lawsuit was settled in 2022 for over $105 million.
—Ava Berger, NPR, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settled
Adjective
-
Expect lively, clubby vibes as local DJs pump out deep house and dance to soul and techno, depending on the mood.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
See latest conditions Rainfall during the critical germination months from September through November was well below normal, and the winter rain needed to support deep roots and healthy growth also fell short.—
Marley Malenfant,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Crude prices were largely stable in early trading hours on Monday.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Her treatment went better than her doctors expected, and Catlin's cancer has been stable for almost seven years.—
MAGGIE PENMAN THE WASHINGTON POST,
Arkansas Online,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Call it la dolce vita filtered through an exuberant American lens.—
Ingrid Abramovitch,
Architectural Digest,
24 Mar. 2026
-
But there is something so wonderful about being fifty and having your own job and having been through so many disappointments that a situation like this is filtered through different experiences and people—the narrator’s discernment has an incredible clarity.—
Cressida Leyshon,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Soon after, the weapon used is traced back to Sverre Olsen (Arthur Hakalahti), a young arms dealer operating in a downtown warehouse populated by the city’s underworld and, according to the 70 percent assurance of face recognition expert Beate (Ellen Helinder), a familiar presence within the force.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
But there are still a number of similarities between the two successful drama series that are laced with dark comedy and populated with sympathetic criminals.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Minnesota Department of Corrections But the judge decided Connie would get two years and three months.—
Peter Van Sant,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Boozer picked up most of his points with the game already decided.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Each bride’s dress has been billowed out and arranged around her in a circle, and these white figures are scattered at irregular intervals throughout the green field.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
-
The financing for the upgrade will be in the form of credit arranged by Citibank and will generate supply contracts worth $314 million for British firms, the UK government said, including a $93 million contract for British Steel.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Built by Lockheed Martin, the Orion vehicle will be perched atop NASA's 322-foot Space Launch System rocket, built by Boeing and Northrop Grumman.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Once upon a time, a kids spa treatment meant glitter nail polish, a side braid and maybe a cucumber slice perched optimistically on a 9-year-old’s forehead.—
Kathryn Romeyn,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Four of them lodged official complaints but the cases were dismissed due to lack of evidence.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Original framing remains visible, along with traces of the building’s early insulation, including layers of centuries-old newspapers still lodged within the walls.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settled. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
