determinate

adjective

di-ˈtər-mə-nət How to pronounce determinate (audio)
Definition of determinatenext
1
as in certain
having been established and usually not subject to change a determinate order of succession to the throne

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in limited
having distinct or certain limits contestants have a determinate length of time to answer the questions

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 determinate Tomato cages are best used for low-maintenance, determinate, and bushy tomatoes, and are overall easier to set up than stakes. — Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 17 May 2026 For determinate or semi-determinate tomato plants, which are shorter than indeterminate varieties but produce multiple stems, a cheap, easy-to-find tomato cage will often do the trick, says Farrell. — Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026 Knowing the difference between determinate or indeterminate tomatoes. — Patricia S York, Southern Living, 22 June 2026 Compassionate release emerged from the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, a statute better known for eliminating parole and ushering in the modern era of determinate sentencing. — Walter Pavlo, Forbes.com, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for determinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for determinate
  1. certain
  2. limited
  3. stable
  4. finite
  5. fixed
  6. restricted
  7. unchanging
  8. definite
Adjective
  • The technology has drawn public controversy since Detroit first signed a contract covering certain police precincts in 2020, and again in late 2022.
    — Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026
  • By then Tanacharison is telling Washington that he is mystically protected, in the mode of certain Indigenous warriors who were placed on earth to be leaders.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 1 July 2026
Definition of certain
Adjective
  • The department’s limited release of materials prompted outcry and lawsuits from people saying the department was acting to protect rich and powerful people mentioned in the files.
    — Aysha Bagchi, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • But the Idaho side never found the back of the net again while Knoxville proved lethally efficient with its limited opportunities.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 3 July 2026
Definition of limited
Adjective
  • For a stable, repo-local script, that critique holds, and wrapping every small command in a gateway adds surface area no one needs.
    — Janakiram MSV, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
  • The four children and three adult victims are in stable condition, Tisch said.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 5 July 2026
Definition of stable
Adjective
  • Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, continues to defy time at the World Cup, embodying the finite nature of elite careers.
    — Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026
  • Big dreams have a tendency to shape-shift when they are transformed into earthbound finite reality.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 June 2026
Definition of finite
Adjective
  • There’s no fixed salary to fall back on.
    — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 28 June 2026
  • Give Yourself Time To Become A Leader Remember that the transformation from founder to leader is an ongoing process, not a fixed state.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of fixed
Adjective
  • Another man has been charged with operating an unregistered drone in restricted airspace around Dallas Stadium during the FIFA World Cup, federal attorneys said Friday.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 July 2026
  • In a separate interview, another person familiar with the situation — who has been involved in past intelligence investigations involving Venezuelan officials — offered additional allegations about the restricted zone.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026
Definition of restricted
Adjective
  • The soccer world has moved on from the idea that a coach must share his players' blood and that a team’s identity is just a reflection of an unchanging national character.
    — Michael Morris, Time, 1 July 2026
  • Typically, people recover meteorites in geologically unchanging regions, such as deserts or ice fields, where the meteorites stand out against the landscape.
    — Adam Lark, Scientific American, 28 June 2026
Definition of unchanging
Adjective
  • Overall definite recommend on Screen Engine and Rentrak’s Postmark audience exits was 52%, versus Superman at 74%.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 29 June 2026
  • Elements like paint, lighting, furniture, and decor are definite opportunities to have a little more fun with trends without worrying about longer-term ramifications.
    — Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026
Definition of definite

Browse Nearby Words

determinants
determinate
determination
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Determinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determinate. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

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?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All