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.
Other Word Forms
- nondecisively adverb
- predecisively adverb
Etymology
Origin of decisively
Vocabulary lists containing decisively
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.
In the interim, the state and local governments must act decisively to enforce the existing wage floor, ensuring employers cannot use expanded housing deductions to push workers’ pay below the legal minimum.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
This year Dell decisively broke above an 18 month consolidation period.
From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026
Congress acted decisively with Genius, and the Clarity Act is the necessary next step.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026
The operator said "We act decisively where issues were identified, and continue to strengthen care, leadership and oversight."
From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026
Colonel Korn acted decisively to arrest what seemed to him to be the beginning of an unwholesome trend in Major Major’s squadron.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
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.
