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

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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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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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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

Cautionary collections Another consideration when deciding what to do with all the leaves falls under the category of health and safety. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026 Roth conversions impact tax benefits When deciding on a Roth conversion, projections should include the current year's taxes, along with an analysis of future years, financial advisors say. — Kate Dore, Cfp®, Ea, CNBC, 18 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 Diagnose the monster before deciding which mind and which move are required to outwit it. — Jeff Degraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026 The deciding score came minutes later, with Florida’s star running back, Jadan Baugh, sprinting around the right side of the line. — Noah White, Miami Herald, 17 Oct. 2026 How much did that public criticism contribute to Chicago deciding to move on? — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Perhaps his best move was deciding on Murphy to take over as manager after Counsell’s departure. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 Coach Jim Harbaugh blamed himself for starting the landslide by deciding to go for it on fourth down from the Chargers’ 41, saying the team should have punted then relied on its defense, which had played well all day. — Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deciding

Adjective

If Bass’ vow to rule the same as before represents a decisive leader, more and more Angelenos seem to be saying, give us the Raman flood.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
By afternoon, the Moon trines Mars and your mind gets sharper and more decisive.

— Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of decisive

Verb

Price optimization means choosing prices that advance business goals, such as increasing profits, attracting shoppers or clearing unsold goods.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
Traditionally, choosing a nozzle size involves a compromise between detail and speed.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of choosing

Verb

The exact motive behind this particular campaign remains unclear because determining the next step would require engaging with the sender.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
The discussion centered on how that tool might become part of a connected filmmaking process, with human direction and VFX expertise still determining how its images fit together.

— Lin Ying-Hsuan, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of determining

Verb

Worthy settling in is an encouraging development for the Chiefs, especially with Rice potentially returning as soon as next week.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026
By 1968, Mitchell moved to Los Angeles, settling in Laurel Canyon, which was becoming a hub for singer-songwriters including David Crosby, Graham Nash and others.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 15 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

But Min’s team still had doubts to address before making any conclusive claims.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026
For Hoffman, the evening’s results were encouraging but not necessarily conclusive, and the extensive use of guarantees should be taken with a grain of salt.

— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of conclusive

Verb

At the beginning of the tour, Bibbs experimented with color in her hair for the first time, opting for bright-red braids that stood out under the glow of the stage lights.

— Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 14 Oct. 2026
But shoppers can still find deals by comparing prices, buying in bulk and opting for a mix of chocolate and non-chocolate sweets.

— Kristine Lazar, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026