1
as in decides
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute)
a three-member panel will determine the case
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in chooses
to come to a judgment about after discussion or consideration
trying to determine which direction we were facing
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in finds
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
we failed to determine the answer to the riddle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in ceases
to come to an end
your participation in the savings plan determines with the termination of your employment here
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in settles
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute
your choice of college could determine the rest of your life
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of determines
The system determines whether sanitization is needed and leaves that choice to the user.
—
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Jan. 2026
Even with a healthy points balance, flexibility often determines whether booking an award flight is possible.
—Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 9 Jan. 2026
However, $500 million in homelessness funds approved last year will still be available to local governments — as long as the state determines cities and counties applying for the money have made sufficient progress in alleviating the crisis.
—Ethan Varian, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
In the internal logic of Venezuela’s ruling system, power functions less like that of a modern institutional state and more like a feudal hierarchy, where control of armed force determines political survival.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 8 Jan. 2026
An operating model determines how work gets done.
—Katerin Le Folcalvez, Fortune, 8 Jan. 2026
Your home’s airflow determines how far the mist from your humidifier travels and how it is distributed throughout a room.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Yet what increasingly determines success isn’t land or logistics but labor.
—Connie Etemadi, Charlotte Observer, 7 Jan. 2026
Personal preference often determines the best choice.
—Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for determines
Verb
-
And while Elliott would like to see Nielsen as the next CEO, if the board decides on someone else who is equally qualified, Elliott will support that decision.—
-
Georgia grows tired of her husband and their nightly trips to the fancy French restaurant and decides to have an affair with another man at another table (Alan Howard).—
Verb
-
In this world, inflation isn’t a bug, but a feature of how the Fed chooses to balance the crisis.—
-
Directors chooses three candidates from their district to create the 21-member cohort, who will learn about the local water system and the agency’s projects through webinars and tours of water infrastructure.—
Verb
-
The patient thriller finds Agnes lonely in her seedy motel, with a phone that often rings, though the person on the other end of the line never speaks.—
-
Don’t miss out on fuzzy socks, best-selling makeup, clever home organizing essentials, and more under-the-radar finds starting at $4.—
Verb
-
From December through February, shuttle service largely ceases (outside of select days and weekends; check shuttle schedules for up-to-date details).—
-
Plenty of literary audio has been made in the more than eight years since S-Town, but the writer language used to talk about podcasting ceases to exist outside the editing room.—
Verb
-
After his death, Pine settles into a requisite life in London as Alex Goodwin, a member of an unexciting intelligence unit called the Night Owls.—
-
Through meditation, the mind naturally relaxes, settles into the present moment, and grants us access to our consciousness and our own innate intelligence.—
Verb
-
The dollar is poised for its sharpest annual retreat in eight years and investors say more declines are coming if the next Federal Reserve chief opts for deeper interest-rate cuts as expected.—
-
If the Dolphins make a coaching change, Ross must be certain that the coach would be open to playing young players - and doing lots of losing for one season - if the team opts to spend the next year getting its salary cap in order and prioritizing a high draft pick.—
Verb
-
However, shortly before reuniting at David's wedding, Poppy learns — via Alex's brother — that Alex and Sarah broke off their engagement, but doesn't know why.—
-
Throughout his snooping and jet-setting, Pine becomes infatuated with Roper’s girlfriend Jed (Elizabeth Debicki), who eventually learns his real identity and begins to plot a way out of her toxic relationship.—
Verb
-
That concludes today’s newsletter.—
-
Per the civil suit, the first group would automatically receive payments within 90 days, while the second group will need to complete a form once the initial payout period concludes.—
Cite this Entry
“Determines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/determines. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share