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 Judge Ana Reyes held a hearing on Monday to learn more about the tree-clearing and decide whether to block further work on the golf course. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026 The number of congressional battlegrounds nationwide has shrunk with gerrymandering and political polarization, making the district one of about two dozen races that will decide the House majority. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Another man decided to report to police additional abuse by Moore, who was the man’s babysitter, after speaking with Hamilton in 2010, according to court records and Hamilton’s campaign. — Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026 Coral Gables voters in November will decide whether to reelect Commissioner Melissa Castro for a second term or give first-time candidate Nestor Menendez a chance to represent them. — Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decide

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decide

Verb

Mississippians have not chosen a new Democratic senator since 1947, and Democrats last won a Senate race there when that senator, the onetime segregationist John Stennis, won his last reelection in 1982.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Swift’s fans were disappointed by the outcome of the game and how the Seahawks chose to celebrate on social media.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of choose

Verb

The Kern County Coroner’s office will determine his cause of death, Hardy said.

— Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026
The spacecraft is expected to land near the Moon’s south pole, where the computer will undergo tests to determine whether advanced computing systems can operate reliably in the lunar environment.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of determine

Verb

The hotel can also arrange more typical Lanai tourist activities—scuba diving, sailing, horseback riding, or a day at the beach at the sister Four Seasons resort.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2026
Lawyers in Russia eventually located him and arranged for legal visits, money for food and basic necessities, and the brief phone call with his son.

— Olivia Gazis, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrange

Verb

He was educated at Middlebury College, and lived in New York City for 15 years, before settling back on the farm with his wife, Olga, and their children, Fiona and Abraham.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2026
Remember, parents with kids this age are also the ones that are still living with their mom and dad, have to have coloring books and fidget toys at work to settle their nerves and focus and flat out refuse to grow up.

— Joe Kinsey OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of settle

Verb

Weiss-Wolf’s advice emphasizes understanding your options and advocating for better health care, while recognizing that disclosing symptoms or requesting an accommodation can carry risks.

— Jo Ann Liguori, Flow Space, 21 Oct. 2026
Reynolds understood how to sell the new pen, too, with advertisements promising an avant-garde writing utensil, capable of enduring long stretches of writing with no need to replenish the ink.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Forty-nine percent of Americans, and 60% of millennials, sometimes feel judged for enjoying things considered childish.

— Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
With more than seven million people packed into over 9,000 high-rises, efficiency is key here, and people will judge you for holding up lines, hesitating with your Octopus card, or lingering over your dim sum table while others are waiting.

— Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of judge

Verb

The twist here is that the action is derived from two different points in history, switching back and forth between eras and ultimately melding the two.

— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
The guarantee derived from a calculation by Hoover’s engineering deputy, Arthur Powell Davis, that so much water flowed down the river that there would always be enough to meet every state’s needs.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of derive

Browse Nearby Words

decibels

decide

decided

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Style

“Decide.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decide. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of decide

verb

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