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
The agreement to restore the flag settles the lawsuit.
—
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
While the daily hustle is just beginning for many, evidenced by the amount of foot traffic spotted passing by through the glass windows of the hotel’s restaurant, Jeff Peterson settles in to momentarily enjoy the Hornets’ metamorphosis and enthusiasm engulfing the franchise.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
The temperamental Moon settles into your 4th House of Home Improvement, forming a steady trine with Saturn in your 8th House of Intimacy.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
But as the game began to wind down, there was only that familiar, eerie silence that settles over a football stadium as the UConn men, who have become a sort of grim reaper at these Final Fours, ran out the clock.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
At Rhein Haus, a tape measure settles the close calls.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Rabbit gets married young, settles in a suburb, eventually takes over his father-in-law’s car lot, and claws his way to bland prosperity.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
And always vacuum up the dust that settles on the floor afterwards.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Once each group settles on a single nominee and their credentials are verified by a review committee, the 586-member legislature will vote; the candidate with the highest number of votes will become president, while the other two will serve as vice presidents.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 13 Apr. 2026
While the daily hustle is just beginning for many, evidenced by the amount of foot traffic spotted passing by through the glass windows of the hotel’s restaurant, Jeff Peterson settles in to momentarily enjoy the Hornets’ metamorphosis and enthusiasm engulfing the franchise.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 9 Apr. 2026
The temperamental Moon settles into your 4th House of Home Improvement, forming a steady trine with Saturn in your 8th House of Intimacy.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 6 Apr. 2026
But as the game began to wind down, there was only that familiar, eerie silence that settles over a football stadium as the UConn men, who have become a sort of grim reaper at these Final Fours, ran out the clock.
—Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 Apr. 2026
At Rhein Haus, a tape measure settles the close calls.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 3 Apr. 2026
Rabbit gets married young, settles in a suburb, eventually takes over his father-in-law’s car lot, and claws his way to bland prosperity.
—Boris Kachka, The Atlantic, 3 Apr. 2026
And always vacuum up the dust that settles on the floor afterwards.
—Sunshine Flint, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Once each group settles on a single nominee and their credentials are verified by a review committee, the 586-member legislature will vote; the candidate with the highest number of votes will become president, while the other two will serve as vice presidents.
—ABC News, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
-
What emerges is an intimate, cinematic process that lays bare the musician’s deep connections and inspirations in Tribeca alum Josh Alexander’s moving music documentary.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
-
This straightforward set-up lays the groundwork for a moving, and often anxiety-inducing, investigation of language, empathy, and miscommunication.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Olsen fully inhabits her role as a popular social media influencer and the object of Ingrid's obsession.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Hameed provides the voice and remote puppetry, while Shah inhabits the bear costume onstage.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Elle Fanning stars as Margo Millet, an aspiring writer who decides to make money fast via OnlyFans; Pfeiffer and Nick Offerman play her parents, a former Hooters waitress and an ex-pro wrestler.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
17 Apr. 2026
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Chandler Levack‘s new film is structured like a Russian nesting doll of roommate stories, as the two girls are confronted by a guidance counselor who decides to tell them another story of freshman year roommates who didn’t get along at first.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Vatican facilitates visas and local SIM cards in advance, and arranges hotels and local transportation, allowing reporters to focus on the news rather than logistics.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jean-Baptiste, who trained as a cellist, arranges his songs—some of which are barely over a minute long—like a chamber cycle punctuated with interludes.—
Emma Madden,
Pitchfork,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Even the squirrels in the backyard and the bird that perches on the deck are put on notice.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
10 Feb. 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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However, when the island air calms down in the evening, their delightful fragrance is very evident.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
17 Apr. 2026
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Moisturizer calms and plumps your skin, which makes your tone look more uniform — even without makeup.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lawlor’s book contains chapters devoted to politics, but her inclination to reach for examples of the reasonable and unreasonable that any reader will intuitively share serves her less well here.—
Nikhil Krishnan,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Every yard contains underground pipes that bring in services such as natural gas and water and carry away sewage.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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