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
Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Brown, however, opted against inserting McBride into the starting lineup, instead deciding to stick with Bridges, who is averaging just seven points on 25% shooting from 3-point range this series.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
At future parole board hearings, the people deciding his fate would be unable to consider that behavior if the bill passes.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Nguyen said one of the assistant’s biggest shifts was deciding to prioritize his attention over saving him time.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
More than 250 security leaders helped shape the briefing, which argues the challenge is no longer just finding flaws, but deciding which ones actually pose real risk – and fixing them before they can be turned into working exploits.
—Stefanie Schappert, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Indeed, for ibogaine, there have been very few randomized clinical trials, the gold standard for deciding whether a medication or other intervention does what it is meant to do.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
There’s no jury trial – just a judge deciding whether someone deserves to remain American.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
If something feels off, pause, step away, and check the details before deciding.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 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
Consult with two or three other legal representatives before deciding whom to use.
—Albinson Linares, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
Brown, however, opted against inserting McBride into the starting lineup, instead deciding to stick with Bridges, who is averaging just seven points on 25% shooting from 3-point range this series.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 25 Apr. 2026
At future parole board hearings, the people deciding his fate would be unable to consider that behavior if the bill passes.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
Nguyen said one of the assistant’s biggest shifts was deciding to prioritize his attention over saving him time.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026
More than 250 security leaders helped shape the briefing, which argues the challenge is no longer just finding flaws, but deciding which ones actually pose real risk – and fixing them before they can be turned into working exploits.
—Stefanie Schappert, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026
Indeed, for ibogaine, there have been very few randomized clinical trials, the gold standard for deciding whether a medication or other intervention does what it is meant to do.
—Stephanie Pappas, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2026
There’s no jury trial – just a judge deciding whether someone deserves to remain American.
—Cassandra Burke Robertson, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
If something feels off, pause, step away, and check the details before deciding.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding
Adjective
-
Zehavi doubted the proliferation of FPV drones would have a truly decisive impact on the war overall, comparing it to previous technological improvements Hezbollah has adopted.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Only four have even pushed it to the decisive Game 7.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Local water is also more reliable, even though predicting rain in the Mediterranean climate of Southern California is about as easy as choosing a winning Super Lotto number.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The Dolphins doubled down on Red Raiders prospects after, earlier Friday, choosing Texas Tech linebacker Jacob Rodriguez with their lone second-round pick.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This draft class will go a long way toward determining whether Glenn and Mougey stick around beyond 2026.—
Zack Rosenblatt,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
So home viewers should make sure to be looking at the streaming listings when determining when to tune in.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ballmer steadfastly denies arranging the deal between Aspiration and Leonard, who by all accounts performed no duties for Aspiration.—
Steve Henson,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Just three weeks ago, Vancouver Police reported five incidents involving a man allegedly robbing people after arranging to meet with him, to sell the suspect Pokémon cards.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Baltimore sues pharmaceutical companies In 208, Baltimore sued several drug makers and pharmaceutical companies, often settling before reaching a trial.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Notify creditors and allow time for claims to be filed before settling debts.—
Nancy Ashburn,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The very legitimacy of deriving general principles from the particulars of experience can never be established from experience without already having the principle in hand.—
Christopher Beha,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The research is not conclusive on the use of GLP-1 and Alzheimer’s, but some preliminary data is encouraging.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Experts as a whole say more research is needed to give a conclusive answer about benefits and risks.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While others sneak photos of Newsom, a cluster of New York Times reporters just feet away are opting to forgo watching the governor hold court —and are instead watching the Lakers do so.—
Clara Molot,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
At the gala, Shepherd will celebrate the Gulf, but with a little bit of a curveball, opting to show off the great beef raised in the region instead of the seafood its known for.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
24 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Deciding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deciding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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