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 Unable to afford repairs to the van’s air conditioning, Gordon decided to sell it hoping to shed not only repair costs, but the rising expenses that come with keeping the vehicle. Maveah Griffith, Charlotte Observer, 3 July 2026 Daniels decided to write the Foreign Principal Lobbying Oversight Act, which requires agents lobbying on behalf of foreign governments to register with the Oklahoma Secretary of State. Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026 Todd Malcolm said he was convinced the bear would catch the vulnerable calf and decided to intervene. Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 However, rather than continue to tinker away on that cut, the studio decided to force a bakeoff by creating two cuts, one by Gillespie and one by the studio. Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 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
  • The floorplan is arranged with a clear separation between the living areas and private sleeping quarters of the home.
    Bridget Borgobello July 03, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
  • Bunting arranged this way is appropriate for covering a speaker’s desk, draping the front of a platform or general decoration.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 3 July 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
  • When choosing a warranty, review the contract, check what is covered, and understand the claims process.
    Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • However, it is rarely used on mainstream weather maps and by TV meteorologists, who favor the heat index that has long reigned supreme and is easily understood by the public.
    Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 3 July 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
  • Some explanations of bodily difference were obviously wrong, such as physician and signer of the Declaration of Independence Benjamin Rush’s conviction that the dark skin of African Americans was a disease, derived from leprosy.
    Katherine Ott, The Conversation, 2 July 2026
  • The real benefit is derived when the feedback is followed by visible action that improves experience, trust and retention.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

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