decide

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decide differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decide are determine, resolve, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When can determine be used instead of decide?

Although the words determine and decide have much in common, determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

In what contexts can resolve take the place of decide?

The synonyms resolve and decide are sometimes interchangeable, but resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

When might rule be a better fit than decide?

In some situations, the words rule and decide are roughly equivalent. However, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

When is settle a more appropriate choice than decide?

While the synonyms settle and decide are close in meaning, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

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 decide Then President Nayib Bukele decided enough was enough. Gisela Salim-Peyer, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2025 Some tourists stumbled upon the skinny discount at Chiang Mai Breakfast World and decided to try it, as shown in a pair of Instagram videos that have since gone viral. Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 10 Apr. 2025 Conrad and Harry decide a meeting should be set up with Richie before things get out of hand. Matt Cabral, EW.com, 30 Mar. 2025 After a week-long trial which started on March 24th, a jury took just three and a half hours to decide that Kingston, 35, and his mother ran a scheme to scam luxury brands, jewelers, and even a home entertainment company out of more than $1 million. Essence News Editors, Essence, 30 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • Cameron might choose one of Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club books, while Lochlan would likely find value in absurdist fiction, like Albert Camus' The Stranger.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Mazin chose to use this challenge in Season 2 rather than gloss over it.
    Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The election will determine the ideological balance of the highest state court.
    Jason D. Greenblatt, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
  • However, it was later determined that the report of the assault, as well as other elements of the caller’s story, was fabricated, leading to authorities to publicly seek out information regarding their identity.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But the human author was a sort of conductor: prompting, arranging, intervening.
    Anna Wiener, New Yorker, 9 Apr. 2025
  • Oz: On [Richard’s] birthday, Laura arranged for maybe a dozen Civil War reenactors to come galloping onto the set.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions.
    Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The lawsuit was settled in 2024 for $1.85 million, according to NBC News, but the emotional damage remains.
    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Some means to understand things that are uncontrollable.
    Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025
  • At some point 3 to 4 billion years ago, Mars lost its atmosphere for reasons not yet fully understood, and with it, the temperate conditions that allowed liquid water to exist on its surface.
    Jonathan O’Callaghan, JSTOR Daily, 10 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Instead, referee Oshane Anthony Nation opted to issue just a yellow card to the 21-year-old after viewing video replay, much to LAFC’s relief.
    Martin Rogers, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
  • And while such a vote isn’t necessary, some companies still opt to hold one, including when Charter announced a deal to acquire Liberty Broadband last year in an all-stock transaction.
    Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That culminated with Richardson being the most pivotal pick of Ballard’s nine-year tenure, and if he’s judged by that selection more than all of the others, that’s what comes with the territory after not finding an answer sooner.
    James Boyd, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
  • The whiskeys are judged on appearance, nose, taste, finish, balance, character, and complexity.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Trump has derived his authority to impose tariffs by declaring a national emergency caused by the flow of fentanyl and undocumented migration from Canada, Mexico and China.
    Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The name is derived from metal legs that extend out to keep the bag standing upright.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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