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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2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants the region was originally settled by farmers

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3
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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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8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb settle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of settle are decide, determine, resolve, and rule. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

When might decide be a better fit than settle?

While in some cases nearly identical to settle, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When is it sensible to use determine instead of settle?

The words determine and settle can be used in similar contexts, but determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When would resolve be a good substitute for settle?

In some situations, the words resolve and settle are roughly equivalent. However, resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

In what contexts can rule take the place of settle?

Although the words rule and settle have much in common, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

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 settle The lawsuit was settled the following day, according to TMZ. Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 16 Mar. 2025 Friday, the wheel of lineups settled for a night on Jaquez, Robinson, Bam Adebayo, Tyler Herro and Andrew Wiggins, the Heat’s 20th lineup of the season, and, yet again, another quintet that had not played together until the opening tip. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2025 On returning to Old Trafford, Charlie Mitten scored the first United goal and, in March 1951, the debts to Davies’ widow and the brewery were finally settled. Michael Walker, The Athletic, 15 Mar. 2025 Windsor had settled in, with both Backhaus and Smiley finding their groove while the Rams sputtered at the end of the quarter. Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
Verb
  • These days, the old salt flats are inhabited by osprey, egrets, pelicans, herons, and more.
    Laura Begley Bloom, AFAR Media, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Her brand, founded in 2020, inhabits a unique space in womenswear—between intergenerational handcraft and textile innovation.
    Gemma A. Williams, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • But New Haven Judicial District State’s Attorney John P. Doyle took exception to the bill, asserting that prosecutors already consider someone’s history including domestic violence in deciding sentences.
    Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025
  • The comedy revolves around a family restaurant where the characters must decide to keep traditional customs and dishes or ditch them for trendier meals, as the business battles financial challenges.
    Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The institute once arranged for a Purim care package to be airdropped to a Jewish Coast Guard member 700 miles off the coast of Alaska, for example.
    Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Every morning, the monks gathered there, arranging themselves on the long stone benches, to discuss the matters of the day.
    Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Have a pint at the Gravity Bar, perched atop the Guinness Storehouse with its breathtaking view of Dublin’s skyline, or visit the experimental brewery and taste Guinness’s latest concoctions.
    Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
  • Take your time in the morning and settle into the property’s long, perched porches for some reading, writing or conversing with fellow guests.
    Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Scientists have found microplastics lodged deep in human lungs, buried in fatty tissues, and circulating in the bloodstream.
    Bill Frist, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The 62-year-old Georgescu lodged his appeal with Romania's Constitutional Court in the capital Bucharest, a day after the Central Election Bureau rejected his candidacy, the court said.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Every product was determined to have excelled in each category by our editorial team, which is composed of in-house writers and editors as well as contributors—along with special consideration from editors, dermatologists, and aestheticians.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 2025
  • The movement is composed of 514 pieces framed within a titanium baseplate, all of which come together to provide the impressive array of complications present.
    Blake Buettner, Robb Report, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Another, the Jacked Up sandwich, contains jalapenos, cheese, bacon and sauces.
    Jason Dill, Miami Herald, 15 Mar. 2025
  • Firefighters have largely contained the most severe blazes, but fire risk remains high in parts of the region.
    Kiley Price, WIRED, 15 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • School systems with weak property tax bases, including those in rural areas, depend on that money to pay teachers, pay for buses and buy classroom technology.
    Bianca Vázquez Toness, Chicago Tribune, 22 Mar. 2025
  • There is a price to be paid for that much larger sensor though—the GFX100RF is larger and heavier than any of the X100 cameras.
    Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 22 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

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