DECIDING Synonyms: 236 Similar and Opposite Words

deciding 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈsī-diŋ

Definition of deciding

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

deciding

2 of 2

verb

present participle of decide

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in arranging

to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of we waited for our captors to decide our fate

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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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

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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 deciding

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 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

Moghadam also said that Tehran would study the Mecca Joint Defense Agreement that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey before deciding whether to support it, describing it as a potential instrument for unity. — ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026 Florida voters are deciding whether to pass a constitutional amendment that would lower property taxes for some — but not all — homeowners by raising the state’s homestead tax exemption. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 24 Oct. 2026 Antonelli is on track to break a record set in 2010 by Sebastian Vettel, who became the youngest-ever world champion in a title-deciding thriller. — Sahil Kapur, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026 After individually deciding to bail on the dinner, the pair run into each other by the valet, and their mutual attraction, despite their vastly different personalities, leads to a spicy evening together. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 23 Oct. 2026 More than one quarter of Minnesota's likely voters said solving the problem will be top of mind when deciding who should be the state's next chief executive, according to the latest Minnesota Star Tribune poll. — Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026 After deciding to keep playing, Bauers signed a minor-league deal with the Brewers for 2025 and did enough in a part-time role to get signed back in 2026. — Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026 The market is deciding whether AI is a threat or a tailwind for this business, and Sean makes the tailwind case below. — Josh Brown,sean Russo, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Dramatic — and sometimes controversial — endings were the story of a wild college football Saturday, with late-game calls deciding some outcomes and potentially having an effect on how the College Football Playoff shapes up a couple months from now. — Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding

Adjective

Brandon McElroy, who founded the nonprofit Green Air Solutions to lead the fight against J7, said in an interview that the denial was a decisive win.

— Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Oct. 2026
Despite Paolo Banchero’s 35 points, 10 assists and seven rebounds against the Hawks, the Magic had 20 turnovers and shot 1-of-12 from 3-point range in the decisive fourth quarter.

— Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of decisive

Verb

In Rome, Kim Kardashian delivered a stellar vintage moment at the All’s Fair season two screening, choosing an archival Yves Saint Laurent gown in bold leopard.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
Charlotte Observer score predictions Alex Zietlow remained perfect last week after choosing the Panthers over the Eagles.

— Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of choosing

Verb

The findings suggest that while broader insurance inflation is moderating, affordability remains uneven, with regional market conditions and individual circumstances determining how much relief households actually experience.

— Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Those designations can play an important role in determining where certain assets go, so they should generally be reviewed periodically and after major life changes.

— Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

One of our all-time favorite experiences was arranging a private, behind-the-scenes tour of Blenheim Palace, led by none other than the Duke of Marlborough himself.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Miranda Orozco, 50, was sentenced to 30 years in prison after admitting to arranging travel and accommodations for two people who died and another who was seriously injured.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of arranging

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
Now, Rupert Murdoch views Fox as a core part of his legacy, as last year’s family trust battle underscores, with his son Lachlan ultimately securing control of the empire after battling (and ultimately settling with) his siblings.

— Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of settling

Verb

There is just enough wry humor—think Shaun of the Dead—sprinkled throughout to keep things from getting too grim, often deriving from Bryan’s cluelessness and general lack of skills.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 22 Sep. 2026
The Chiefs finished dead last in the NFL with 362 yards deriving from explosive rushes last season.

— Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of deriving

Adjective

Public health officials say there is no conclusive scientific evidence that supports using cat’s claw for any health purposes.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026
Although the possibility that better sleep could reduce opioid use after surgery is promising, Amaya cautioned that the findings are not conclusive.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of conclusive

Verb

Waititi never settles on one either, most often opting for a glibness that treats key aspects of the plot, including Klara’s rudimentary faith, into something like a joke.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
The reality star had an outfit change at the ready for her exit, opting for look 22 from the same collection—a fuchsia replica of her first dress.

— Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026