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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 Authorities have not determined how Davis ended up in the remote area where he was found. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025 To fulfill a campaign process, President Donald Trump has overturned the asylum process set up by his predecessor and determined that tens of thousands of people who followed a Biden administration process are in the United States illegally. Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today, 19 July 2025 But then-Attorney General Frank Kelley determined that Serotkin could not run for his seat again despite the preemptive resignation. Clara Hendrickson, Freep.com, 19 July 2025 The authors determined that women’s romantic competence impacted both partners’ capacity for expressing positive emotions that support closeness. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for determine
Recent Examples of Synonyms for determine
Verb
  • In a July 15 episode of her podcast, Unlocked, the reality television star, 27, decided to speak about undergoing liposuction for the first time, detailing the reasoning behind her decision to undergo the knife.
    Michelle Lee, People.com, 15 July 2025
  • Peskov said Putin would need time to analyze Trump's remarks, some of which were directed at him, and to decide whether to comment.
    Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Verb
  • Southwest passengers now have to choose between four different price tiers of tickets when booking a flight: Basic, Choice, Choice Preferred, Choice Extra.
    Maia Pandey, jsonline.com, 23 July 2025
  • Aimee, the couple's oldest child, chose not to be involved in the series.
    Julie Tremaine, People.com, 22 July 2025
Verb
  • Search crews found Phillips’ Jeep crushed into the mud, but have not recovered the fire chief’s body after more than two weeks of searching.
    Bayliss Wagner, Austin American Statesman, 25 July 2025
  • Determined to find a way to make his first feature-length movie, Zhou took a multi-tiered approach to securing financing.
    Julie Hinds, Freep.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • Johnson concluded that the program breached a guideline on accuracy, which deals with misleading audiences.
    Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2025
  • Shaffer and his colleagues have concluded the bird hitched back-to-back rides on a garbage truck, taking advantage of the low-effort form of transportation to reach a destination filled with tasty food scraps.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • But if a real estate investment isn’t in the cards at the moment, settle for the next best thing by renting one of the many villas currently listed on Airbnb.
    Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 14 July 2025
  • Gary, though, did have one last piece of business to settle — with Ballard herself, stalking her in the dark of the cold case unit’s basement HQ.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 14 July 2025
Verb
  • Jordan Roa and Terrell Baptiste, a transfer from Massachusetts, figure to get most snaps at quarterback.
    John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 July 2025
  • It wasn’t written into law, but the markets figured Uncle Sam would come to the rescue if there were trouble.
    Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • Apple Original Films has partnered with Ben Stiller on Stiller & Meara: Nothing is Lost, his intergenerational documentary passion project about his late comedy icon parents Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, Deadline has learned.
    Matt Grobar, Deadline, 23 July 2025
  • The Oscar winner’s eight-episode cyber thriller The Savant will premiere Friday, Sept. 26 on Apple TV+, with the first two episodes, TVLine has learned.
    Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • Shortly after Braun’s executive order, the Indiana Department of Health told local health departments to stop accepting requests to change genders on birth certificates.
    Marissa Meador, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • Break it up by stopping at the St. Regis Travel Center in St. Regis, Montana, for a huckleberry milkshake.
    Sal Vaglica, USA Today, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Determine.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determine. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

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