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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in perches
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 nestles
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in calms
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in pays
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
But today, Don Swift settles all family business.
—
Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Get a FanCash refund if your bet settles as a loss.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
While Tommy grapples with his complicated family life and a still-grieving Cami settles into her new position at the company, the undercurrent of just how dangerous the oil business is can't be ignored.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The arrival of the storms just as the region settles into autumn is not unusual, Murdock said.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
After Morgan settles in, the interrogation begins.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2025
The next motion settles an ongoing lawsuit between the firefighters’ union and the city.
—Alexis Martin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Arthur recites some Shakespeare and settles into a sulk after discovering some plans Edward has not shared with him.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Then, as the tide goes out, the silt settles on the ship structures.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2025
Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2025
Get a FanCash refund if your bet settles as a loss.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
While Tommy grapples with his complicated family life and a still-grieving Cami settles into her new position at the company, the undercurrent of just how dangerous the oil business is can't be ignored.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 1 Oct. 2025
The arrival of the storms just as the region settles into autumn is not unusual, Murdock said.
—Rick Hurd, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
After Morgan settles in, the interrogation begins.
—Nick Caruso, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2025
The next motion settles an ongoing lawsuit between the firefighters’ union and the city.
—Alexis Martin, Cincinnati Enquirer, 25 Sep. 2025
Instead, Arthur recites some Shakespeare and settles into a sulk after discovering some plans Edward has not shared with him.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Then, as the tide goes out, the silt settles on the ship structures.
—Andrea Tamayo, Scientific American, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
-
The Oscars have always been Hollywood’s most glamorous therapy session, where the industry lays bare its collective psyche under the klieg lights of the red carpet.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Planning Commission hearing, nearly four years in the making, lays the foundation for San Diego to make one of its most consequential real estate deals in recent memory.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Town of Campbell, outside of La Crosse, also discovered widespread PFAS contamination of private wells, likely stemming from the use of firefighting foam at the La Crosse Regional Airport, which inhabits a portion of the small island in between the Black and Mississippi Rivers.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The team that inhabits it is often called inevitable — immune to pressure and impossible to put away.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In an interview with Variety in April 2023, Coelen shared that the crew often decides who will reveal their decision first at the altar.—
Samantha Stutsman,
PEOPLE,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Snoopy decides to cook his own version of a Thanksgiving meal with help from his friends.—
Tanya Wildt,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Financial compatibility is a necessity, but a partner who arranges things and therefore shows effort is vital.—
Essence,
Essence,
8 Oct. 2025
-
An employee arranges a salad dressing display at an Amazon Fresh grocery store on December 12, 2024 in Federal Way, Washington.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
And frequent appearances by a pigeon that perches on her windowsill like a Greek chorus, mocking her self-abasement and growing detachment from reality, seem a tad heavy-handed.—
Book Marks
August 28,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The way Skye nestles her head into the crook of her brother’s neck or drapes herself across his legs after an unembarrassed display of grief is ineffably moving.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Clear info calms the nerves and gets people ready to party.—
Elle Chan,
Rolling Stone,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The nearness of bees, and of other things that agitate most people, calms me.—
Rivka Galchen,
New Yorker,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Known to relieve nausea and bloating, ginger contains antioxidants with anti-inflammatory properties.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Raw dog food typically contains human-grade meat and vegetables, and it has been linked to improved digestion for canines.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
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