decisive
adjective
de·ci·sive
di-ˈsī-siv 
1
: having the power or quality of deciding
The council president cast the decisive vote.
a decisive battle
2
: resolute, determined
a decisive manner
decisive leaders
a decisive editor
3
: unmistakable, unquestionable
a decisive superiority
decisively
adverb
decisiveness
noun
Examples of decisive in a Sentence
You must be decisive and persistent to succeed in this competitive field.
I stood there wondering what to do, but my sister was more decisive and immediately went to the phone.
The fight ended with a decisive blow.
the decisive battle of the war
The poverty of his childhood played a decisive role in his adult life.
The meeting is seen as a decisive step toward a peace treaty.
Recent Examples on the Web
If there is no fundamental change in the Iranian leadership’s rhetoric and policy, the United States must begin preparing, alongside its partners, for a more decisive phase of wartime policymaking.
—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
In the first decisive victory of this tournament’s knockout stage, France dominated Sweden Tuesday with a 3-0 win that guaranteed the French another match this week.
—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
Eleven minutes later, Kane scored the decisive goal after evading defenders and letting one rip with his right foot and finding the top-right corner.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Mora was clean and decisive on the ball against Ecuador before exiting the match in the 59th minute.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for decisive
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Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
In the first decisive victory of this tournament’s knockout stage, France dominated Sweden Tuesday with a 3-0 win that guaranteed the French another match this week.
—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
1 July 2026
Eleven minutes later, Kane scored the decisive goal after evading defenders and letting one rip with his right foot and finding the top-right corner.
—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
1 July 2026
Mora was clean and decisive on the ball against Ecuador before exiting the match in the 59th minute.
—
Jack Lang,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for decisive
Cite this Entry
“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decisive. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decisive
adjective
de·ci·sive
di-ˈsī-siv
1
: having the power to decide
the decisive vote
2
: unmistakable, unquestionable
a decisive victory
3
: marked by or showing decision
a decisive manner
decisively
adverb
decisiveness
noun
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