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
Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Maple has even settled in at third in the batting order.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Now that the dust has settled from her divorce, where does Nicole Kidman live?
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2026
Florida State and Clemson settled their lawsuit against the conference a year ago about possibly leaving.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Eventually, the location settled in a cornfield near Hardin, about an hour east of Kansas City.
—Nathan Pilling
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Her daughters settled in the US, and later, Bahena became an American citizen in 2013.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
In 1883, the family settled in Booneville and Carmichael attended high school in Fort Smith.
—Arkansas Online, 2 May 2026
Most aspects of that suit were settled earlier this year.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 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
Aided by the cushion of a 3-0 lead, after a home run by Kinon Bastian, a wild pitch and an RBI double by Xavier Johnson in the third inning, Arafet settled into a groove and relied on his arm, and the Royals went on to win 4-1 to earn a two-game sweep in the best-of-three series.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 May 2026
Maple has even settled in at third in the batting order.
—Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 2 May 2026
Now that the dust has settled from her divorce, where does Nicole Kidman live?
—Joyce Chen, Architectural Digest, 2 May 2026
Florida State and Clemson settled their lawsuit against the conference a year ago about possibly leaving.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026
Eventually, the location settled in a cornfield near Hardin, about an hour east of Kansas City.
—Nathan Pilling
may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026
Her daughters settled in the US, and later, Bahena became an American citizen in 2013.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
In 1883, the family settled in Booneville and Carmichael attended high school in Fort Smith.
—Arkansas Online, 2 May 2026
Most aspects of that suit were settled earlier this year.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settled
Adjective
-
But for many, the occasion carried a deeper meaning, one centered on those who dreamed of connecting Los Angeles to Chicago by road generations before them.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
The songs were radiant, ecstatic, and cleansing, a deep exhale from a band freed from boardroom expectations.—
Dan Stahl,
New Yorker,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Rudolph Giuliani, the former mayor of New York City, is in critical but stable condition at a hospital, his spokesman said Sunday.—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
4 May 2026
-
Rob Carr / Getty Images Before starting her stable, DeVaux climbed her way up the ranks, beginning as a stable worker for the late Chuck Simon before becoming an assistant trainer for Chad Brown.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
The water is filtered through layers of limestone which removes iron, a mineral that can negatively affect the whiskey’s flavor.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Because in the book, Vidala is so filtered through other people’s perspectives.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Huron was largely a farming town populated by immigrants whose lives and culture influenced his work.—
Jean E. Palmieri,
Footwear News,
4 May 2026
-
Going back to the Top 10 favorites of 2025, the rest of the list was almost entirely populated by movies.—
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
All seven games were decided by a goal, and four went to overtime, with the stingiest of netminders at both ends.—
Eduardo A. Encina,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
The developer that had approached Mike decided not to build, so Mike’s plans were not going to be advanced.—
Lucius Riccio,
New York Daily News,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Association of Educators vice president and art teacher Rae LeGrone stood with a clipboard, alongside Erin DeMund, a teacher at Oaklawn Language Academy who had arranged a similar, though smaller, demonstration a week earlier in Charlotte.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
2 May 2026
-
Access to private tours of the museums can be arranged, as well as private transportation around the islands.—
Lale Arikoglu,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
The focus narrows in on the remaining passengers and crew in the main sections of the aircraft not blown to bits, the cockpit and a stretch of the main cabin (finally, a reward for flying coach), precariously perched on a reef outcrop.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Junior suite 2201 has perhaps the best views of all, perched right above a rocky spot where the waves constantly pound the coastline.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nearly 300 storm reports were lodged Monday, the majority being reports of strong wind, followed by numerous hail reports and three tornado reports.—
Kathryn Prociv,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Reagan was struck below his left armpit, the bullet lodged an inch from his heart.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settled. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
