DELIBERATE Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'deliberate' different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of deliberate are intentional , voluntary , and willing . While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences. // deliberate acts of sabotage

Q: When is 'intentional' a more appropriate choice than 'deliberate'?

The meanings of intentional and deliberate largely overlap; however, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved. // the intentional concealment of vital information

Q: When is it sensible to use 'voluntary' instead of 'deliberate'?

In some situations, the words voluntary and deliberate are roughly equivalent. However, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion. // a voluntary confession

Q: Where would 'willing' be a reasonable alternative to 'deliberate'?

While the synonyms willing and deliberate are close in meaning, willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another. // willing obedience

deliberate 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈli-bə-rət

Definition of deliberate

as in considered

decided on as a result of careful thought the judge made a deliberate decision to impose the maximum sentence

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in conscious

made, given, or done with full awareness of what one is doing a deliberate act of vandalism that should not go unpunished

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

deliberate

2 of 2

verb

di-ˈli-bə-ˌrāt

as in to contemplate

to give serious and careful thought to the jury deliberated the case for three days before returning a verdict

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word deliberate different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of deliberate are intentional, voluntary, and willing. While all these words mean "done or brought about of one's own will," deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.

deliberate acts of sabotage

When is intentional a more appropriate choice than deliberate?

The meanings of intentional and deliberate largely overlap; however, intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.

the intentional concealment of vital information

When is it sensible to use voluntary instead of deliberate?

In some situations, the words voluntary and deliberate are roughly equivalent. However, voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.

a voluntary confession

Where would willing be a reasonable alternative to deliberate?

While the synonyms willing and deliberate are close in meaning, willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.

willing obedience

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 deliberate

Adjective

Constitutional protections against cruel and unusual punishment prohibit deliberate indifference to prisoners’ medical needs. — Jaquelyn Jahn, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 But the archaeologists who excavated the new skeletal fragments from Shanidar Cave in the Kurdistan region of Iraq say the fossils weave a complex tale of Neanderthal life and death, beyond what appeared to be deliberate violence. — Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2026

Verb

After nine days of hearing testimony in August, the jury deliberated for three hours before turning over the guilty verdict. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 Central to the Fashion Forward ethos is the return to slow, deliberate human bonds. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for deliberate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for deliberate

Adjective

Food and drink Food across the resort’s various restaurants is Greek and local but with a considered twist.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
And Moke was no longer a considered tropical cyclone after skirting Hawaii as a tropical storm, the center said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of considered

Adjective

Responding to the tough market, New York dealer Lauren Marinaro of Marinaro Gallery took a conscious decision to feature artworks under $10,000 from artists Ever Baldwin, Ridley Howard, Ron Isaacs, Ryan Johnson and Alessandro Teoldi.

— Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Something that truly was almost seen [as] conscious, which is very hard for someone like Olivia, who believes in Jesus and the Bible.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of conscious

Adjective

In the most extreme, low-probability scenarios, at the very tip of the long tail, the calculated death toll was huge, in the tens of millions.

— Kevin Roose, Vanity Fair, 7 Oct. 2026
For Cruise, playing rancid oil billionaire Digger Rockwell was a calculated gamble.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of calculated

Adjective

Yes, indeed, although voluntary export restraints raise a series of technical issues.

— semafor.com, semafor.com, 20 Oct. 2026
The voluntary settlement agreement does not require a monetary payment, and the university does not admit to any wrongdoing or liability.

— Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of voluntary

Verb

The Liberty Bell, with its famous crack, hasn’t been rung in 180 years, but that hasn’t stopped scientists from pondering what the bell might have sounded like when tolling.

— Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026
In addition, Mendes and the studio have been pondering a highly unique reporting structure for the films’ box office receipts.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ponder

Adjective

In layman’s terms, critical thinking is the ability to think independently by questioning claims, weighing evidence, and making reasoned judgments.

— Ted Ladd, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
None are credible challengers; Matt Conroy is the more reasoned and moderate of the three.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2026

Definition of reasoned

Adjective

Supreme Court justices will now consider whether a group claiming to be targeted by a race-neutral policy must show it was disproportionately harmed to prove intentional discrimination.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
Election experts have said many instances of noncitizens registering to vote are a result of administrative error or confusion on the part of the immigrant — not intentional criminality.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of intentional

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“Deliberate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/deliberate. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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