decisive

adjective

de·​ci·​sive di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce decisive (audio)
Synonyms of decisivenext
1
: having the power or quality of deciding
The council president cast the decisive vote.
a decisive battle
2
: resolute, determined
a decisive manner
decisive leaders
a decisive editor
3
: unmistakable, unquestionable
a decisive superiority
decisively adverb
decisiveness noun

Synonyms

See all Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus 
Choose the Right Synonym for decisive

conclusive, decisive, determinative, definitive mean bringing to an end.

conclusive applies to reasoning or logical proof that puts an end to debate or questioning.

conclusive evidence

decisive may apply to something that ends a controversy, a contest, or any uncertainty.

a decisive battle

determinative adds an implication of giving a fixed character or direction.

the determinative factor in the court's decision

definitive applies to what is put forth as final and permanent.

the definitive biography

Examples of decisive in a Sentence

You must be decisive and persistent to succeed in this competitive field. I stood there wondering what to do, but my sister was more decisive and immediately went to the phone. The fight ended with a decisive blow. the decisive battle of the war The poverty of his childhood played a decisive role in his adult life. The meeting is seen as a decisive step toward a peace treaty.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
While a segment of grassroots Republicans still believe improprieties cost former President Donald Trump the 2020 election, his decisive victory this month has sparked a segment of Democratic voters to now question the 2024 results. —Samuel J. Robinson, Detroit Free Press, 14 Nov. 2024 Walters: California will face consequences for Donald Trump’s decisive victory That doesn’t bode well for the governor and California Democrats, Maviglio, the strategist, said. —Grant Stringer, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 This decisive victory should shake the Democrat establishment to its core. SEN. —NBC News, 10 Nov. 2024 French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a strong message to the European Union in the wake of President-elect Donald Trump's decisive victory. —Jasmine Baehr, Fox News, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decisive 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French decisif, borrowed from Medieval Latin dēcīsīvus, from Latin dēcīsus, past participle of dēcīdere "to cut off, cut out, mark by cutting, settle, choose as a course of action" + -īvus -ive — more at decide

First Known Use

1584, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decisive was in 1584

Phrases Containing decisive

Dictionary Entries Near decisive

decision tree

decisive

decisive action

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Decisive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decisive. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

decisive

adjective
de·​ci·​sive di-ˈsī-siv How to pronounce decisive (audio)
1
: having the power to decide
the decisive vote
2
: unmistakable, unquestionable
a decisive victory
3
: marked by or showing decision
a decisive manner
decisively adverb
decisiveness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on decisive

Nglish: Translation of decisive for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of decisive for Arabic Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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