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 The Screen Actors Guild Award winner, who was born and raised in Los Angeles, decided to move out of the city after getting sick of the uglier side of being a child star. Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 15 May 2026 The private equity firms are monitoring the company’s share price before deciding whether to make a move, according to the Reuters report, which cites sources familiar with the matter. Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 15 May 2026 And the audience, Hammond has come to understand, is ultimately the one who decides. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026 In a market where every solution provider promises transformation, the buyers who fare best are those who have already decided precisely what needs to be transformed. Eilon Reshef, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for decide
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide
Verb
  • Customers choose a few of the distillery’s popular bourbons, which are sold around the state now, as well as Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
    Emily M. Olson, Hartford Courant, 17 May 2026
  • Drivers can reduce their risk by comparing pumps for mismatched parts, using pumps near the store, and choosing tap-to-pay, mobile wallets, or credit cards instead of debit cards when possible.
    Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • This time, the director was determined not to cut corners, to make a film as maximalist as his imagination.
    Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 17 May 2026
  • The choice is vast, yet experienced brokers are quick to point out that specifications alone rarely determine a successful charter.
    Rachel Ingram, Robb Report, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Soon, survey crews showed up, bulldozers were spotted along dusty roads, and the Army Corps of Engineers arranged private meetings.
    Rachel Monroe, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • The spa There’s no spa, but morning yoga and pilates classes are hosted on the rooftop and the hotel can help arrange in-room massage treatments.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Check the facts, ask one clarifying question, and let real information settle your nervous system.
    Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
  • In a social media era rife with mouthwatering food content, kids will no longer settle for a drab school meal.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • Constant said families should be able to look several years ahead and understand whether their children are likely to have transfer opportunities available.
    Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 19 May 2026
  • Van de Peer and his colleagues wanted to understand what accounts for the abundance of modern polyploidy and the seeming relative scarcity of it long ago.
    Ari Daniel, NPR, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Instead, Ujiri opted for a complete cultural reset.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 May 2026
  • But according to global insurance broker Marsh, the majority of companies operating in the Middle East opted only for terrorism and sabotage coverage, stopping short of war.
    Contessa Brewer,Dawn Giel, CNBC, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Yesterday, the trailer for Netflix’s East of Eden mini-series landed, and judging from the looks served, there is much to celebrate and discuss.
    Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 14 May 2026
  • The good news is that interim head coach McFarlane (back in the dugout following Rosenior’s sacking) has two games against City in the past six months to look back on and judge what has worked — and what has not.
    Cerys Jones, New York Times, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • Although borax is naturally derived, it should still be approached with caution.
    Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 17 May 2026
  • In the United States, more than 40 people are being monitored for the Andes virus, a type of hantavirus, which derives from rodents.
    Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 16 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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