decide

Definition of decidenext
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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 Someone decides what counts as cultivation and what counts as nuisance, what gets watered and what gets pulled, what belongs in the planned bed and what must be removed before visitors arrive. Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 You are invited to visit and decide for yourself what belongs on these shelves. Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 26 June 2026 Providence earned two stars each year before the gastronomic guide decided to leave town. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 26 June 2026 Someone still has to decide what fits the brand and what doesn’t. Sergio Alvarez, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • Old borrowers may need to consolidate loans, choose new repayment plans or risk being involuntarily placed in one that may not fit their budget, loan experts said.
    Medora Lee, USA Today, 30 June 2026
  • Design is what decides whether a person can do their best work, find the thread to something larger, and choose without leaving.
    Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Verb
  • Readiness is an ongoing practice, not a declaration, determined by daily interactions and the safety to be candid.
    Tracy Lawrence, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
  • Investigators later determined the teen had distant family members in Colorado.
    Tom Ignudo, CBS News, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Agents also intercepted calls between the two discussing drug and firearm trafficking, during which Rodriguez arranged for deliveries to be made to his home.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 25 June 2026
  • Accordingly, the house is raised 14 feet above the ground, with rooms arranged primarily on one level.
    Sam Cochran, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • Delta has denied these allegations and settled Nejat’s lawsuit last year.
    Emma Hurt, AJC.com, 25 June 2026
  • The company agreed to settle the case without admitting liability.
    Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Verb
  • These reports present your income and spending habits with clean, easy-to-understand visualizations.
    Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Burle Marx understood the country’s abundance as both subject and material.
    Spencer Elliott, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Now that Love's eight children are all grown up and out of the house, the family has opted to sell the home and look for something smaller near Lake Tahoe, according to the listing agency.
    Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • Attorneys for both Machados opted to conduct the screen themselves.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • Concurrently, adult children often feel shame about accepting money and can also feel judged by the older generation.
    Jill Schlesinger, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
  • Not all blondes are dumb, don’t judge a book by its cover, yada yada yada, lo and behold, Reese Witherspoon is a certified movie star.
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The 250's chassis is largely similar to that of its older sibling, with a perimeter frame and aluminum swingarm derived from the Desmo450 MX that debuted last year.
    Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 June 2026
  • The modern word most likely derives from the Greek Cynosarges, a temple of Heracles (better known as the Roman Hercules) that also served as a public gymnasium.
    Theodore McDarrah, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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