DETERMINE Synonyms: 173 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'determine' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of determine are decide , resolve , rule , and settle . While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something. // determined the cause of the problem

Q: When is it sensible to use 'decide' instead of 'determine'?

The words decide and determine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy. // she decided to sell her house

Q: When might 'resolve' be a better fit than 'determine'?

The synonyms resolve and determine 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 would 'rule' be a good substitute for 'determine'?

The meanings of rule and determine largely overlap; however, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority. // the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

Q: When can 'settle' be used instead of 'determine'?

Although the words settle and determine have much in common, settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty. // the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

determine

verb

di-ˈtər-mən

Definition of determine

as in to decide

to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) a three-member panel will determine the case

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to choose

to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration trying to determine which direction we were facing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to find

to come upon after searching, study, or effort we failed to determine the answer to the riddle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to conclude

to come to an end your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to settle

to make final, definite, or beyond dispute your choice of college could determine the rest of your life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb determine differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of determine are decide, resolve, rule, and settle. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When is it sensible to use decide instead of determine?

The words decide and determine are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When might resolve be a better fit than determine?

The synonyms resolve and determine 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 would rule be a good substitute for determine?

The meanings of rule and determine largely overlap; however, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

When can settle be used instead of determine?

Although the words settle and determine have much in common, 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 determine The board will determine compensation for Betancourt in his role as chief executive, the document says. — Cate Brown, ProPublica, 21 Oct. 2026 Specialists must evaluate a patient's symptoms, medical history, neurological examinations and imaging results to determine whether the disease is present. — Jasmine Arenas, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026 Financing options at that time will determine when the projects are completed. — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 The only real way to determine which important findings are robust is to invest the money and effort required for replication itself. — Mark Louie F. Ramos, STAT, 21 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for determine

Recent Examples of Synonyms for determine

Verb

Trials in four other cases in which Sorrells’ predecessor, Sharen Wilson, decided to seek the death penalty, have occurred during Sorrells term.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
The next auto race will be decided by which country can excel at both.

— Rick Lazio, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of 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

Neither team could find a flow from three-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot five for 29 from deep — three of 16 by Golden State and two for 13 by Atlanta.

— Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Of the first 15 plays for the Dallas offense, 10 were on the ground, and the Cowboys found success.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

The feat concludes a pursuit that began in 2009, when Zhang first experimented with riding a motorcycle on water and overcame early failures to achieve his latest goal.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
The meeting concluded with a general consensus among School Board members and City Council representatives to move forward with feasibility studies, cost breakdowns and formal design reviews before drafting a binding interlocal agreement.

— Randy Moll, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of conclude

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

The Sun enters your 3rd House, beginning a month that favors learning, writing, conversations, local activity, and following questions farther than usual.

— Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 23 Oct. 2026
The foundation cites decades of research and learning showing that grantees with flexible, long-term funding were better prepared for the unexpected.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of learn

Verb

Luigi Carbone, Pope Leo XIV's physician, said the pontiff's recovery from lung cancer surgery won't stop plans for a visit to Uruguay, Argentina and Peru involving a dozen flights and two helicopter rides to high altitudes.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
Another to stop solving problems his team brings him and teach them to solve it instead.

— Ben Plomion, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of stop

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“Determine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determine. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of determine

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