as in decisive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning
the project's prohibitive cost was the deciding factor in its cancellation
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in choosing
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration
they decided to go out for pizza after the movie was over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in determining
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
the judge decided that the defendant was not liable for damages
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in arranging
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
we waited for our captors to decide our fate
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in settling
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
the huge sum that they were offering decided the matter: we would sell the house
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in deriving
to form an opinion or reach a conclusion through reasoning and information
the commanding officer decided that the soldier was indeed telling the truth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of deciding
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
The bullpen gave up the lead on the first pitch, and then three more in the deciding 10th inning.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
Travis weeks earlier cited as the deciding and unprecedented factor.
—Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
As a result of the split, Sheboygan city residents play no deciding role in either of the two districts, which both lean heavily Republican.
—Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024
Several people said the job fell to Tillis to convince enough Republican colleagues to vote in favor of the bill so no one person had to be the final deciding vote.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2022
Playoff baseball is never easy. Shelby County knows that all too well following a highly-competitive deciding game against a fresh-faced St. Paul’s squad with rally blood pumping through its veins.
—Evan Dudley, al, 23 Apr. 2022
The jurors in the Rittenhouse trial were overwhelmingly White not only in the original pool of 179 prospects but also in the final deciding panel of 12, where there was only one person of color.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN, 23 Nov. 2021
Houck would be an obvious candidate to start again if the Sox are able to push this series to a fifth and deciding game.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2021
Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The former Huskies’ star went off for a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-109, in the deciding Game 6 Friday night to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
In a deciding game three Friday at Coppell ISD’s Cowgirls Stadium, Byron Nelson’s season came to an end with an 8-5 extra innings loss to Guyer (35-4).
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
That often means deciding what deserves a place moving forward, what no longer serves a purpose, and which tried-and-true habits are actually worth keeping.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Upcoming global regulatory frameworks are actively deciding which of these structural models will capture the bulk of institutional adoption over the next decade.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Sometimes, the hardest part of making dinner is deciding what to make.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
This was an extra special evening for Barcelona, with the two early goals basically deciding the game, and the Camp Nou supporters able to enjoy the joyous atmosphere and close relationship between fans and team.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Kuhl tossed a shutout on just 89 pitches as Champion took down Southwest 6-0 in the deciding Game 3 of their Class 5A Division I second-round playoff series Saturday at Northside Sports Complex.
—Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 9 May 2026
Adjective
Instead, the person must show race was the crucial and deciding factor.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
The bullpen gave up the lead on the first pitch, and then three more in the deciding 10th inning.
—Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2025
Travis weeks earlier cited as the deciding and unprecedented factor.
—Chris Vannini, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024
As a result of the split, Sheboygan city residents play no deciding role in either of the two districts, which both lean heavily Republican.
—Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024
Several people said the job fell to Tillis to convince enough Republican colleagues to vote in favor of the bill so no one person had to be the final deciding vote.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2022
Playoff baseball is never easy. Shelby County knows that all too well following a highly-competitive deciding game against a fresh-faced St. Paul’s squad with rally blood pumping through its veins.
—Evan Dudley, al, 23 Apr. 2022
The jurors in the Rittenhouse trial were overwhelmingly White not only in the original pool of 179 prospects but also in the final deciding panel of 12, where there was only one person of color.
—Omar Jimenez, CNN, 23 Nov. 2021
Houck would be an obvious candidate to start again if the Sox are able to push this series to a fifth and deciding game.
—BostonGlobe.com, 9 Oct. 2021
Verb
Because teams are deciding whether to devote millions of dollars and precious roster spots to occasionally unreliable males in their early twenties, much of a scout’s work is akin to investigative reporting.
—Dan Greene, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
The former Huskies’ star went off for a game-high 32 points, 11 rebounds and six assists to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves, 139-109, in the deciding Game 6 Friday night to clinch a spot in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City.
—Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 16 May 2026
In a deciding game three Friday at Coppell ISD’s Cowgirls Stadium, Byron Nelson’s season came to an end with an 8-5 extra innings loss to Guyer (35-4).
—Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 May 2026
That often means deciding what deserves a place moving forward, what no longer serves a purpose, and which tried-and-true habits are actually worth keeping.
—Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 16 May 2026
Upcoming global regulatory frameworks are actively deciding which of these structural models will capture the bulk of institutional adoption over the next decade.
—Sean Lee, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Sometimes, the hardest part of making dinner is deciding what to make.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 May 2026
This was an extra special evening for Barcelona, with the two early goals basically deciding the game, and the Camp Nou supporters able to enjoy the joyous atmosphere and close relationship between fans and team.
—Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Kuhl tossed a shutout on just 89 pitches as Champion took down Southwest 6-0 in the deciding Game 3 of their Class 5A Division I second-round playoff series Saturday at Northside Sports Complex.
—Jeffrey Perkins, San Antonio Express-News, 9 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding
Adjective
-
During my lifetime there have been 55 years in which my country has engaged in prolonged and endless conflicts or wars, few of which have brought a decisive victory.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
What initially looked like a decisive campaign by the US and Israel has evolved into a stagnant and prolonged conflict, with the threat of further escalation hanging over the region.—
Amena Bakr,
semafor.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
How to handle it safely For dogs that only graze occasionally, the main precaution should be choosing safe locations.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
By choosing investment banking, an industry almost entirely based in Manhattan, students were expressing a predilection for its unique lifestyle and consumption options.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
By finding your allies, defining the goals and determining working integration states, any IT department can successfully migrate its IT and improve its digital sovereignty.—
Kevin Korte,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
-
Investment bankers and takeover artists took a leading role in determining which companies would be sold, merged, or broken apart.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
There’s also a lifestyle concierge to help book all sorts of experiences or answer any questions, from arranging a tour of Frida Kahlo's Casa Azul to coordinating a private driver to Teotihuacán.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
-
Events range from making flower crowns to seasonal vase arranging — no experience needed.—
Mindy Sink,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Rent one from Sea Panarea to discover hidden coves, sea caves, and the nearby islets of Basiluzzo and Lisca before settling in for sunset Negronis at the see-and-be-seen Bar del Porto.—
Nicky Swallow,
Travel + Leisure,
17 May 2026
-
Others are settling for unpaid roles.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
But deriving a unified theory of volcanism will require a geologic Manhattan Project.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
On Thursday, a jury found Geisy Rodriguez Brito, 33, of Royal Palm Beach, guilty of human trafficking and unlawful use of a two-way communications device but not guilty of deriving support from the proceeds of prostitution or witness tampering.—
Shira Moolten,
Sun Sentinel,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This finale was written before the cancellation of Gen V, so a conclusive ending was not written for them, hence the future storylines this will set up.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
-
No Americans have had a conclusive positive test result.—
Erika Edwards,
NBC news,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo will not be in the field, with the horse’s trainers opting to skip the Preakness Stakes to allow Golden Tempo more time to recover after a magical win earlier this month.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
16 May 2026
-
The fallout led to Gaiman withdrawing from the project and Prime Video opting for a 90-minute finale rather than a full season.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deciding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deciding. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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