1
as in to lay
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle
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Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to arrange
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
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5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
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6
7
as in to compose
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
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8
9
10
as in to determine
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of settle
Chlorine gas can quickly settle into lower elevations such as the inner canyon, posing a health risk, officials added.
—
Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 July 2025
Saugatuck was first settled in 1830 by William Butler, although it was not originally called Saugatuck, the Holland Sentinel reported.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 July 2025
The company demanded huge amounts to settle — amounts that left small business owners in fear of closing or having to lay off employees.
—John L. Mica, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
They are built off-site in Germany, transported to the site, and settled into place with a small crane crew.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for settle
Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 13 July 2025
Saugatuck was first settled in 1830 by William Butler, although it was not originally called Saugatuck, the Holland Sentinel reported.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 13 July 2025
The company demanded huge amounts to settle — amounts that left small business owners in fear of closing or having to lay off employees.
—John L. Mica, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025
They are built off-site in Germany, transported to the site, and settled into place with a small crane crew.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
Verb
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Some, like the gray reef shark and blacktip shark, inhabit coral reefs.—
Irit Skulnik,
Baltimore Sun,
22 July 2025
-
Wells’s great mind inhabited a small set of rooms in the six-story Tuckerman Building on Washington Square.—
Henry Wiencek
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Elections in Kentucky have more frequently been decided in the primary, rather than the general election, as the state continues its rightward shift.—
Hannah Pinski,
The Courier-Journal,
28 July 2025
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Following World War II, then-owner J. Paul Getty decided to pivot and start building trailers out of the use of the company’s trademark aluminum monocoques, according to Car and Driver.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
28 July 2025
Verb
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Horowitz spent decades arranging for Sondheim’s archives to come to the Library of Congress.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
13 July 2025
-
The controversy comes at a time the United States is trying to arrange a ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Netflix officially announced the start of the shoot in Italy on July 2, sharing a snap of Collins perched on a vespa.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
14 July 2025
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The lodge complex consisted of a main building and 114 standalone cabins perched at some 8,000 feet overlooking the canyon.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
14 July 2025
Verb
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The club have lodged their appeal against UEFA, Lyon and Nottingham Forest.—
Robert Olsen,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
-
The bullet pierced that victim’s left thigh, exiting then lodging in her right thigh.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025
Verb
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If folks will volunteer, it can be composed of two- or three-member teams of neighbors patrolling, if possible, at the approximate times these crimes are occurring.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
18 July 2025
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For a widow who lost her husband, her only brother and her only daughter in just five months, McCrory is remarkably composed.—
Pamela Brown,
CNN Money,
18 July 2025
Verb
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As of Thursday afternoon, the fire crew effectively contained 92% of the wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
25 July 2025
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Becton's yellow pajama pants and the single latex glove were analyzed by the Arkansas State Crime Lab, which reported the glove contained Becton's DNA and particulates of gunshot residue, according to the affidavit.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Any cleaning that needs to be done to meet the landlord’s standards is then paid for using the security deposit.—
Kristine Gill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 July 2025
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Three practices are paid entry for visitors ages 4 and older: July 27, Aug. 2 and Aug. 3.—
Joseph Hernandez,
Kansas City Star,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 2 Aug. 2025.
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