See More

Some common synonyms of settle<\/em> are decide<\/em><\/a>, determine<\/em><\/a>, resolve<\/em><\/a>, and rule<\/em><\/a>. While all these words mean \"to come or cause to come to a conclusion,\" settle<\/em> implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.<\/p>

\/\/ the dean's decision settled<\/em> the campus alcohol policy<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'decide' be a better fit than 'settle'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to settle<\/em>, decide<\/em><\/a> implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.<\/p>

\/\/ she decided<\/em> to sell her house<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'determine' instead of 'settle'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words determine<\/em><\/a> and settle<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but determine<\/em> implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.<\/p>

\/\/ determined<\/em> the cause of the problem<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'resolve' be a good substitute for 'settle'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

In some situations, the words resolve<\/em><\/a> and settle<\/em> are roughly equivalent. However, resolve<\/em> implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.<\/p>

\/\/ he resolved<\/em> to quit smoking<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "In what contexts can 'rule' take the place of 'settle'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

Although the words rule<\/em><\/a> and settle<\/em> have much in common, rule<\/em> implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.<\/p>

\/\/ the judge ruled<\/em> that the evidence was inadmissible<\/p>" } } ] }

settle

verb

ˈse-tᵊl How to pronounce settle (audio)
Definition of settlenext
1
as in to lay
to cause to come to rest at the bottom (as of a liquid) the light rain will settle the dust in the air careful handling will settle the lees in the bottom of the wine bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to inhabit
to supply with inhabitants the region was originally settled by farmers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to decide
to give an opinion about (something at issue or in dispute) settled the lawsuit in favor of the defendant

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to arrange
to come to an agreement or decision concerning the details of settled their wedding plans without any major disagreements

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air birds settling on the branches of the maple tree

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to lodge
to establish or place comfortably or snugly settled the sleeping baby into her crib

Synonyms & Similar Words
7
as in to calm
to free from distress or disturbance a hot meal settled the children down

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

Synonyms & Similar Words
9
as in to pay
to give what is owed for settle a debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
10
as in to determine
to make final, definite, or beyond dispute this information should settle the question of who is right

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb settle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of settle are decide, determine, resolve, and rule. While all these words mean "to come or cause to come to a conclusion," settle implies a decision reached by someone with power to end all dispute or uncertainty.

the dean's decision settled the campus alcohol policy

When might decide be a better fit than settle?

While in some cases nearly identical to settle, decide implies previous consideration of a matter causing doubt, wavering, debate, or controversy.

she decided to sell her house

When is it sensible to use determine instead of settle?

The words determine and settle can be used in similar contexts, but determine implies fixing the identity, character, scope, or direction of something.

determined the cause of the problem

When would resolve be a good substitute for settle?

In some situations, the words resolve and settle are roughly equivalent. However, resolve implies an expressed or clear decision or determination to do or refrain from doing something.

he resolved to quit smoking

In what contexts can rule take the place of settle?

Although the words rule and settle have much in common, rule implies a determination by judicial or administrative authority.

the judge ruled that the evidence was inadmissible

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 settle TikTok also agreed to settle, and details were not disclosed. —ABC News, 26 Mar. 2026 Meta could have settled this case, as Snapchat and TikTok did. —Alexei Oreskovic, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026 The Raptors struggled to find any rhythm on offense early on, finally settling into a groove during their modest run. —Janis Carr, Oc Register, 26 Mar. 2026 Eovaldi got off to a rough start giving up a two run home run to last year’s NL home run leader designated hitter Kyle Schwarber but settled in throwing three scoreless innings. —Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
  1. lay
  2. inhabit
  3. decide
  4. arrange
  5. perch
  6. lodge
  7. calm
  8. contain
Verb
  • In their own realms, General Relativity and the Standard Model can each lay claim to be the most successful physics theory of all-time.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
  • Still, Trump’s key Middle East envoys are reportedly laying groundwork for potential peace talks, with messages passed between Washington and Tehran via intermediaries.
    — Tom Chivers, semafor.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of lay
Verb
  • The filmmaker weaves together the current fights for not only the land, but also for the women who inhabit the land.
    — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
  • The novel does not offer the reader a character to comfortably inhabit or a moral to extract.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of inhabit
Verb
  • Jenkins is on a road trip back to Yuba City and decided to grab some food.
    — Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • The club’s decision makers will meet this weekend to decide on the club’s final few roster spots, but there are still a few days left for players to make a last impression.
    — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of decide
Verb
  • The academy had been looking for a venue that offered greater control over how the show is staged, including how the audience is arranged and how the room is used for both the broadcast and the live event.
    — Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Trump administration officials are working to arrange a meeting in Pakistan this weekend to discuss an off-ramp to the war in Iran, two senior administration officials told CNN.
    — Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
Definition of arrange
Verb
  • But both clubs could end those funks and in convincing fashion, since both sit perched atop their respective divisions presently.
    — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 21 Mar. 2026
  • There are many Lulu & Georgia moments to admire in Mandy Moore’s Altadena home, courtesy of designer Sarah Sherman Samuel, from her bedside nightstands to the wicker chaise loungers perched poolside.
    — Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of perch
Verb
  • But he is instead now lodged in the middle of it.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2026
  • That image lodged itself somewhere deep in me and never quite left.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Mar. 2026
Definition of lodge
Verb
  • The moisturizer pairs cica, a go-to ingredient for calming redness and irritation, with a blend of five peptides that support firmer, smoother-looking skin over time.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 21 Mar. 2026
  • Designer Paulo Lobo is responsible for the beautiful interiors; rooms are pared back and spacious in calming neutral tones.
    — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026
Definition of calm
Verb
  • The device, turned in by a visitor, contained more than 2,000 images and 100 videos of child pornography, along with photos of Catron, authorities said.
    — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The report compiled by the Star-Telegram contains data from March 8 through March 21 and 365 inspections.
    — Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of contain

Phrases Containing settle

Browse Nearby Words

setting upon
settle
settled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on settle

Nglish: Translation of settle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about settle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of dross

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Mar. 27

Why do we call it a 'pipe dream'?

Why do we call it a 'flea market'?
See More

Popular

See More

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

12 Words for Signs of Spring

The Opposite of Déjà Vu
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
little boy with a magnifying glass looking at footprints
Quiz: Spot the Misspelled Word! Think you can detect a spelling error from a mile...
See All