1
as in lays
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inhabits
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in decides
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arranges
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
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5
as in perches
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in nestles
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
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7
as in calms
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
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8
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
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9
as in pays
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
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10
as in determines
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
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Recent Examples of settles
When that piece settles, Annacone believes the ceiling could be extremely high.
—
Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Remember, soil settles over time.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Over time, that greasy film that settles on your wood cabinets can trap dirt and dust, making the buildup hard to remove.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
Terrified, Tortora settles the bill in full, but that will not put an end to the matter.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
It is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
After a brutal and solid opening, Ghostface settles into monotony.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
In an unassuming building by the Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls in Bensalem, Bucks County, 33-year Turnpike Commission veteran Eric Paul settles in every day with that hat on display over his shoulder.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
As night settles in, the focus tightens indoors, where darker, longer-form sets and immersive sound systems take over.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Douglas Robson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2026
Remember, soil settles over time.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Mar. 2026
Over time, that greasy film that settles on your wood cabinets can trap dirt and dust, making the buildup hard to remove.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2026
Terrified, Tortora settles the bill in full, but that will not put an end to the matter.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 1 Mar. 2026
It is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council, which advises the supreme leader and settles disputes with parliament.
—ABC News, 1 Mar. 2026
After a brutal and solid opening, Ghostface settles into monotony.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 26 Feb. 2026
In an unassuming building by the Pennsylvania Turnpike tolls in Bensalem, Bucks County, 33-year Turnpike Commission veteran Eric Paul settles in every day with that hat on display over his shoulder.
—Kim Hudson, CBS News, 25 Feb. 2026
As night settles in, the focus tightens indoors, where darker, longer-form sets and immersive sound systems take over.
—Holly Alvarado, Daily News, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
-
That captures and removes the Venezuelan president, then lays claim to Venezuela’s oil.—
Jill Lawrence,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Trump’s executive order lays the blame for the stagnation of nuclear power at the NRC’s feet.—
Teri Sforza,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Blending observation with musical sequences, the film inhabits routine, memory and desire in a city shaped by crisis and persistence.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Moura inhabits the raw honesty of a man caught in the heart of authoritarianism, anchoring a timely, true-story-adjacent drama.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
If another team decides to make that offer, don’t expect the Cowboys to panic and reset their offer.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Greg decides to shake off the monotony of his life by taking a position as Writer in Residence at the prestigious (fictional) Ludlow College.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
While in the country, Harry and Meghan are also planning to visit several on-the-ground initiatives funded by their Archewell Foundation, including one that arranges for children injured in the Gaza war to be medically evacuated for treatment in Jordan.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Once the quartet finally arrives in Tijuana, a wizard-like smuggler arranges their death-defying crossing.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 2026
-
The Ringed Kingfisher perches up to 30 feet above the surface, watching for medium-size fish and then plunging in headfirst with a mighty splash.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Lech nestles along the eponymous river, tucked in amongst Austria’s westernmost mountains.—
Condé Nast Traveler,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Boasting a playful curved lip that fits neatly in your palm and elegantly nestles one after the other in a stack, these wavy plates are an exceptionally sculptural way to set the table.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
The first step replenishes skin’s water levels, and the second protects it—a combination that improves elasticity, calms inflammation, and strengthens barrier integrity.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Vanicream Moisturizing Cream, another National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance winner, gently calms red, scaly skin with no-frills ingredients that get the job done.—
Sarah Felbin,
Allure,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dark red markings on a gray panel, meanwhile, typically indicate that the ammunition contains an irritant or riot-control agent.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Her Amazon cart contains the ageless, expensive-looking building blocks of any cool girl’s closet.—
Annie Blackman,
InStyle,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
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