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

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

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 decide The couple thought outside of the box and decided to have their drinks prepared by a robot barista. — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 7 Aug. 2026 Her dad decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, and started his own restaurant that lasted for 28 years. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Aug. 2026 The council kicked the resolution to the Ordinance Committee in July after members couldn’t decide on the specifics. — Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026 The Mississippi governor’s 2023 race was decided by 3 percentage points. — ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide

Verb

Six players choose Izzy as the impostor, and not for the last time in this episode.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
Eaton advises checking local facilities for specific costs and remembering that those costs do not include in-vitro fertilization treatment if the patient later chooses to use the eggs.

— Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of choose

Verb

Currently, each state has the power to determine its own rules, with many states opting to return a portion of the interest generated back to homeowners.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026
Mosser has not come to the negotiating table just yet, but Richardson says his office is determined to fix a wrong.

— CBS News, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of determine

Verb

His political foes described the move as a stunt and opted against standing a candidate.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
Currently, each state has the power to determine its own rules, with many states opting to return a portion of the interest generated back to homeowners.

— P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of opt

Verb

Their respective value, therefore, cannot be judged on transfer fee, with their presence in the squad far outweighing that.

— Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
So rather than roll those binary axioms up into a conclusion, there is an easier way to judge the scale of the future of AI, even if not its shape.

— Clem Chambers, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of judge

Verb

Facts + Comments A medication derived from cannabis significantly reduced nightmares in patients with PTSD, according to German researchers.

— Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
The word algebra derives from the al-jabr in this title, which, by extension, also informs the word algorithm.

— Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of derive

Browse Nearby Words

decibels

decide

decided

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of decide

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on decide

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

vacuous

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes