decisive
Americanadjective
-
having the power or quality of deciding; putting an end to controversy; crucial or most important.
Your argument was the decisive one.
- Synonyms:
- final, conclusive
-
characterized by or displaying no or little hesitation; resolute; determined.
The general was known for his decisive manner.
- Synonyms:
- firm
-
a decisive defeat.
-
unsurpassable; commanding.
a decisive lead in the voting.
adjective
-
influential; conclusive
a decisive argument
-
characterized by the ability to make decisions, esp quickly; resolute
Other Word Forms
- decisively adverb
- decisiveness noun
- nondecisive adjective
- predecisive adjective
Etymology
Origin of decisive
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin dēcīsīvus, equivalent to Latin dēcīs(us) ( decision ) + -īvus adjective suffix ( -ive )
Explanation
If you make decisions quickly, you are someone who is decisive. A decisive event can settle something, like a war. People who are wishy-washy are the opposite of decisive: being decisive means you don't waffle or take forever to make up your mind, and then you stick by what you decided. People admire politicians, coaches, and friends who are decisive. In sports, if a home run won the game, that was the decisive run. When you reach a crisis point in life — when things are going to change one way or the other — you've reached a decisive moment.
Vocabulary lists containing decisive
"Of Mice and Men"
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Metamorphosis
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"Night," Vocabulary from the memoir
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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.
Second-placed City, though, are looking to push them all the way and have a game in hand and experience of getting over the line in this decisive period.
From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026
A decisive breakdown would be a bearish catalyst supporting a deeper correction in the months ahead, targeting long-term trendline support near $264.
From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026
"This signal that the threat to international waterways can pass without any decisive action by the international organization responsible for the maintenance of international peace and security," he said.
From Barron's • Apr. 7, 2026
JPMorgan’s chief executive highlighted a range of scenarios in his annual letter to shareholders that could have a decisive impact on world affairs.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026
That was the decisive factor in the British Empire’s eventual defeat of New Zealand’s well-armed indigenous Maori population.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
