1
as in lays
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid)
the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in inhabits
to supply with inhabitants
the region was originally settled by farmers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in decides
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in arranges
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of
settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in perches
to come to rest after descending from the air
birds settling on the branches of the maple tree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in nestles
to establish or place comfortably or snugly
settled the sleeping baby into her crib
Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in calms
to free from distress or disturbance
a hot meal settled the children down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in contains
to gain emotional or mental control of
settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst
Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in pays
to give what is owed for
settle a debt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in determines
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
this information should settle the question of who is right
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 settles
Choose a soothing activity, maybe watercolor, music, cooking, or a quiet walk, and give it your full attention so your spirit settles.
—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2026
Merchants pay interchange on card payments and hold working balances that earn them nothing, and a coin that settles instantly, costs less to accept and, under Open USD’s model, pays them the yield on their balances answers both at once.
—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The tension between the need for new workers and resurgent nativist politics will influence who comes, who settles and who is counted among the ancestors of future generations.
—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
What sort of plan the administration settles on remains to be seen.
—
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Before My Morning Jacket settles into San Francisco for an October residency, frontman Jim James is turning inward.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
23 June 2026
On average, each dollar donated to Undue Medical Debt settles $100 in medical debt.
—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The instinctive Moon settles into your 4th House of Home, while rule-making Saturn in your 11th House of Friends sets structure, creating a quincunx that complicates plans and messages.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Still, after the dust settles, the Iranian regime may end up in a better financial situation than before the war started.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
5 July 2026
Merchants pay interchange on card payments and hold working balances that earn them nothing, and a coin that settles instantly, costs less to accept and, under Open USD’s model, pays them the yield on their balances answers both at once.
—
Zennon Kapron,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2026
The tension between the need for new workers and resurgent nativist politics will influence who comes, who settles and who is counted among the ancestors of future generations.
—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
What sort of plan the administration settles on remains to be seen.
—
Los Angeles Times,
1 July 2026
Before My Morning Jacket settles into San Francisco for an October residency, frontman Jim James is turning inward.
—
Spin Staff,
SPIN,
23 June 2026
On average, each dollar donated to Undue Medical Debt settles $100 in medical debt.
—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
22 June 2026
The instinctive Moon settles into your 4th House of Home, while rule-making Saturn in your 11th House of Friends sets structure, creating a quincunx that complicates plans and messages.
—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
Still, after the dust settles, the Iranian regime may end up in a better financial situation than before the war started.
—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
17 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settles
Verb
-
The screwworm lays eggs in open wounds on mammals, and the larvae feed on living flesh.
-
Screwworm infestations begin when a female fly lays eggs on a wound or body opening.
Verb
-
While Toy Story films usually focus on one child, Toy Story 5 will introduce Blaze, a girl who inhabits Jesse’s old farm where Emily — Jesse’s original owner from Toy Story 2 — once lived, voiced by Myka-Michelle Harris.
-
Together with his assistant Patricia (Kate O’Flynn) and true believer Wyck (Stephen Root), Tom discovers the off vibes originate with a pact between town founder Richard Warren (Hamish Linklater) and the demonic force that inhabits the island.
Verb
-
Michelle, who is smarting from Jesse and Lacy’s visible affection, decides to go full Coyote Ugly on the bar.
-
If a corporation decides to pursue innovation outsourcing, a key consideration is to be transparent with your VC partner.
Verb
-
And then someone arranges logistics and provides the weapon.
-
Aria even has a musical director, who arranges performances and special events and compiles soundtracks for individual stays.
Verb
-
Head to Stoos, which perches on a plateau at the base of the Fronalpstock in central Switzerland.
-
Live streams from entertainment events like the Grammys or Golden Globes aren’t typically perches for controversy, but, says Anthony McCartney, AP’s entertainment and lifestyles editor, celebrities will sometimes be asked to weigh in on recent headlines.
Verb
-
Lech nestles along the eponymous river, tucked in amongst Austria’s westernmost mountains.
-
Boasting a playful curved lip that fits neatly in your palm and elegantly nestles one after the other in a stack, these wavy plates are an exceptionally sculptural way to set the table.
Verb
-
Mayo calms some of the acidity, as does the egg, which also adds a soft, creamy texture.
-
Clear your workspace before the big call, because simple structure turns care into outcomes others can see and calms jitters.
Verb
-
The 585-acre neighborhood contains 5 million square feet of office space, including 250,000 square feet of medical offices where John Muir Health has been expanding.
-
The ancient Moa Eggshell Cave in New Zealand contains the remains of several extinct animal species lost approximately a million years ago.
Cite this Entry
“Settles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settles. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
