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Synonyms

decided

American  
[dih-sahy-did] / dɪˈsaɪ dɪd /

adjective

  1. in no way uncertain or ambiguous; unmistakable; unquestionable.

    a decided victory.
    Synonyms:
    indubitable, sure, definite, pronounced, certain, positive, indisputable, undeniable

  2. free from hesitation or wavering; resolute; determined.

    a decided approach to a problem.
    Synonyms:
    unhesitating, resolved
    Antonyms:
    uncertain
decided British  
/ dɪˈsaɪdɪd /

adjective

  1. unmistakable

    a decided improvement

  2. determined; resolute

    a girl of decided character
"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • decidedly adverb
  • decidedness noun
  • predecided adjective
  • well-decided adjective

Etymology

Origin of decided

First recorded in 1780–90; decide + -ed 2

Explanation

The adjective decided means recognizable, marked, or distinct. If you have a decided preference for classical music, you'll probably get Bach for your birthday and not the Beatles. Decided comes from the verb decide. If something has been decided, the question has been answered. So when we use decided as an adjective, we mean that there is no question about it. If you have decided political views, you won't be swayed by any debate. Decided can also mean distinct, as in a decided splash of yellow paint on your red car.

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Vocabulary lists containing decided

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

When I first decided that I was going to retire to Cuenca, a friend told me that I was going to be bored.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

Phrases like "AI decided" or "ChatGPT knows" can make systems seem more independent or intelligent than they actually are.

From Science Daily • Apr. 19, 2026

He asked to be connected to his sister in Jordan, so he could tell her he’d decided to reschedule his visit.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

Athenson said they didn’t set out to design their models all-electric but decided to go that route for health and safety reasons.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

Bartok, my father, decided not to wait for the leads to open.

From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.