decisively
Americanadverb
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in a way that settles a matter and puts an end to debate or speculation.
The question, "Do habitable conditions for life exist elsewhere in the galaxy?" has been decisively answered in the affirmative.
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in a firm and resolute way, without wavering.
The Executive Office must be able to move quickly and decisively to preserve endangered ecosystems, history, or prehistory on federal land.
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in a clear or definite way; indisputably.
She has not only decisively beaten but ended the political career of every candidate who ran against her.
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Origin of decisively
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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.
"However, if inflation appears not to be moderating sufficiently, then I think we should act decisively to raise rates."
From Barron's ● Sep. 2, 2026
Examined rigorously, policies focused on traditional development goals, such as reduced poverty and improved health, generally win decisively.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
“Over the last two years, Meta has decisively proven that it can effectively deploy AI to materially improve its customer experience,” Mahaney said.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026
Lowe tells the BBC it acts "quickly and decisively" on the rare occasion someone breaches its standards and that the "overwhelming majority" of guardians go on to be "brilliant, community-minded residents".
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
Then, suddenly, decisively, she pulled the name tag off her shirt, and crumpled it in her hand.
From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix
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.
