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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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of settles
As the dust settles on a campaign that began with high hopes and ended with a sense of blessed relief, here is The Athletic’s end-of-season review.
—
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Traditional finance keeps the issuer of an instrument separate from the infrastructure that clears and settles it.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
So the material from underwater eruptions settles close to its source.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
Come summer, the house settles into a familiar rhythm—one marked by shade, conversation, and the soft thud of falling fruit.
—Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2026
Bode settles up with Danny Jake returns to Danny's cabin with a boat, accompanied by Sharon and Richards in a rescue helicopter.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
By Michelle Edgar On Friday night, as the sun sets over the Santa Monica Mountains and darkness settles across Coldwater Canyon Park, visitors gathered for something that feels part concert, part community gathering, and part outdoor classroom.
—Daily News, 23 May 2026
Using a lint roller on upholstered pieces of furniture like couches and occasional chairs is an easy and quick way to combat the dust that settles on the fabric on the back that faces that lines the wall or any other part of the fabric as well.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 20 May 2026
Venturella’s appointment comes as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin settles into his role atop the Cabinet agency overseeing ICE.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Paul Taylor, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Traditional finance keeps the issuer of an instrument separate from the infrastructure that clears and settles it.
—Zennon Kapron, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
So the material from underwater eruptions settles close to its source.
—Quanta Magazine, 26 May 2026
Come summer, the house settles into a familiar rhythm—one marked by shade, conversation, and the soft thud of falling fruit.
—Vaishnavi Nayel Talawadekar, Architectural Digest, 24 May 2026
Bode settles up with Danny Jake returns to Danny's cabin with a boat, accompanied by Sharon and Richards in a rescue helicopter.
—Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
By Michelle Edgar On Friday night, as the sun sets over the Santa Monica Mountains and darkness settles across Coldwater Canyon Park, visitors gathered for something that feels part concert, part community gathering, and part outdoor classroom.
—Daily News, 23 May 2026
Using a lint roller on upholstered pieces of furniture like couches and occasional chairs is an easy and quick way to combat the dust that settles on the fabric on the back that faces that lines the wall or any other part of the fabric as well.
—Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 20 May 2026
Venturella’s appointment comes as Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin settles into his role atop the Cabinet agency overseeing ICE.
—Heather Hollingsworth, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
-
This high-corn composition lays the foundation for a sweet, approachable profile, while the modest rye content adds a measured spice that never overwhelms.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
The parasitic bug resembling a housefly lays its eggs inside living animals like livestock, and the maggots hatched from those eggs burrow into their hosts and eat them alive.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
But unlike Disclosure or Airframe or—above all—State of Fear, his spate of latter-day thrill-eds, Sphere unpolemically inhabits this epistemology of doubt that colors so much of his work.—
Ian Mackenzie,
Literary Hub,
27 May 2026
-
The trees here don't speak to people, but locals say the spirit of an old man inhabits the shadows between the branches.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
Now, technology decides everything.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
-
Deborah decides to pursue treatment after all, if only to buy enough time to work a little more.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
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In Bilt’s model, Kerr said, a member books through Resy or OpenTable, the system automatically arranges a Lyft to the restaurant, payment processes through Toast at the table, and the loyalty points post — without anyone coordinating the chain.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
Next, Butac arranges a bunch of the beans on two trays and roasts them for a specific amount of time before separating the shells from the beans and then running the bean fragments, also known as nibs, through a mill.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Head to Stoos, which perches on a plateau at the base of the Fronalpstock in central Switzerland.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2026
-
Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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To avoid scorching a sweater or having your cords running unruly around your bag, this hot tool bag calms the accessory chaos with a handy heat-resistant mat with a zipper pouch that rolls up for compact storage.—
Carin Ryan,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
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Something about seeing the gentle flow of an expansive body of water immediately calms the nerves, sending your mind into a state of sweet stillness.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The neighborhood/area West Bay is a cluster of towering skyscrapers that contains residences, shopping malls, office buildings, hotels, and restaurants.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
-
Mathieu Lewis-Rolland / Getty Images The tank was designed to hold 900,000 gallons of a hazardous chemical known as white liquor, a chemical brew that contains sodium hydroxide, sodium sulfide and disodium carbonate and is used in the paper-pulping process, officials have said.—
Marlene Lenthang,
NBC news,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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