Sample Sentences for
decisive
grouped by contextual meaning
(editor-reviewed)

decisive as in:  a decisive defeat

Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
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    Tonight, they play the decisive game seven of the series.
    decisive = determining an outcome
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    In the end, it is character that is the decisive factor in a person's life.
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    She took decisive action to turn her life around.
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Show 10 more with 2 word variations
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    Apparently, there had been a brief and decisive skirmish and I'd just missed it.  (source)
    decisive = conclusive in settling a matter
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    "Just the same, we got to get you home again, Winnie," said Tuck, standing up decisively.  (source)
    decisively = in a way that ends any question about something
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    But here again, Curtis played a decisive role in my life.  (source)
    decisive = important (determining an outcome)
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    "Okay then, I'll pick you up, no problem," Mom said decisively, sweeping the half-grapes into a snack bag with the side of her knife.  (source)
    decisively = in a manner that ends any question about something
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    The hairy outlaw gave a loud and decisive snort.  (source)
    decisive = indicating that a decision was made
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    Paul turned decisively back to his repair job.  (source)
    decisively = in the manner of someone who ended questioning about something
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    Something had to be done, something decisive—he couldn't spend the rest of the school year hiding from Dana Matherson and Beatrice Leep.  (source)
    decisive = conclusive in settling a matter
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    They rested a minute on the open window, then he shook his head decisively.  (source)
    decisively = in the manner of someone who ended questioning about something
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    That piece of evidence had proved decisive against Williams in both trials, despite everything the defense had done to explain it.  (source)
    decisive = conclusive in settling a matter
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    "Never heard of them," he remarked decisively.  (source)
    decisively = in a manner that ends any question about something
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decisive as in:  a decisive decision maker

•
She is a decisive leader.
decisive = makes quick decisions and sticks by them
Show 3 more with this contextual meaning
  • •
    We need a decisive leader who can act quickly without losing time in consultation.
    decisive = able to make quick decisions
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    It was actually quite fortunate that they saw Frau Holtzapfel coming from the living room window, for her knuckles on the door were hard and decisive.  (source)
    decisive = firm
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    You need to be strong, decisive.  (source)
    decisive = making quick decisions and sticking by them
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Show 10 more with 3 word variations
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    He had to have discipline, and that meant demanding—and getting—quick, decisive obedience.  (source)
    decisive = without hesitation or doubt
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    But the decisiveness of her message shook him to his very marrow, and when he walked into the cool shadows of the drawing room he did not have time to think about the miracle he was experiencing because his intestines suddenly filled in an explosion of painful foam.†  (source)
    standard suffix: The suffix "-ness" converts an adjective to a noun that means the quality of. This is the same pattern you see in words like darkness, kindness, and coolness.
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    She did this decisively, one jab and one grind, not the series of genteel taps favored by many of the Wives.  (source)
    decisively = without hesitation
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    Their decisive movements showed they knew exactly where to go and what they were looking for.  (source)
    decisive = ability to make quick decisions
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    With an air of weary decisiveness, I opened the window, took the binoculars and climbed onto the ledge.†  (source)
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    His tone grew decisive.  (source)
    decisive = indicating a firm decision
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    THOUGH WHEN he sat on a campaign chair his legs didn't reach the floor, Colonel Pietro Insana was a man of great decisiveness.†  (source)
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    Patria closed her purse with a decisive snap. "Let's just go."  (source)
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    "Tomorrow," said the ogre with gruff decisiveness, glancing pointedly at one of the attending moomenhovens.†  (source)
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    He was by nature a decisive man, and although this was one of the great decisions of his life and he knew it, he made it quickly and did not agonize over it.  (source)
    decisive = making quick decisions and sticking by them
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