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
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of decisive
First recorded in 1605–15; from Medieval Latin dēcīsīvus, equivalent to Latin dēcīs(us) ( see decision) + -īvus adjective suffix ( see -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.
“Following a staff member report of member misconduct, the club provided immediate and ongoing support to the staff member, conducted a thorough independent investigation of the incident and took decisive action,” the statement read.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 12, 2026
He and his wife had some money to invest, but the decisive moment came when his friend Bill Murray—yes, that Bill Murray—agreed to split the cost.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
He said "decisive action" had been taken to strengthen how clinical information was shared and recorded to ensure uncertainty and differing opinions are clearly documented.
From BBC • Jun. 5, 2026
Tillis, who told me that the president’s beloved Florsheims might be a little too “flashy” for the Senate, supplied the decisive vote to confirm Hegseth, a former Fox host, as secretary of defense.
From Slate • Jun. 5, 2026
In reality, even for the most famous and apparently decisive modern inventions, neglected precursors lurked behind the bald claim “X invented Y.”
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.
