DECIDE Synonyms: 184 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

decide

verb

di-ˈsīd

Definition of decide next

as in to choose

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to determine

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

as in to arrange

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

as in to settle

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

as in to understand

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

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

Examples 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 Beck and Fernandez fell in love, and after Fernandez shared his scheme, Beck decided to join him. —

Nicole Acosta, People.com, 4 Jan. 2025 If there is no winner decided from the first ballot, the category goes to a second one without any proxies. —

Christy Piña, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Jan. 2025 How last season ended is also part of the reason why a few graduate players decided to come back for another year, Teuscher said. —

Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 4 Jan. 2025 In other words, decide which bills not to pay until Congress gets its game together and raises the ceiling. —

Peter Green, Quartz, 4 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for decide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide

Verb

This is a dangerous conflation and an insult to women who choose to cook.

Mina Holland, Vogue, 11 Jan. 2025
The finalists were selected from among nearly 2,000 applicants, with award winners chosen by a panel of scientists, engineers and educators.

Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Jan. 2025