Decisive
/dɪˈsaɪsɪv/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Decisive means able to make decisions quickly and clearly without doubt. It can also describe something that causes an important result or ending in a situation. When a person is decisive, they do not hesitate and choose a clear answer or action.
Was this helpful?
⚡ See It in Action
Showing the ability to make decisions quickly and confidently
- •She is a decisive leader who always knows what to do.
- •Being decisive helps in emergencies when quick choices are needed.
- •His decisive answer ended the long discussion.
Causing an important or final result in a situation
- •The decisive moment in the match was when he scored the winning goal.
- •Their decisive victory changed the course of the tournament.
- •The evidence was decisive in proving her innocence.
🧲 Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "decisive" like "clear" but about decisions—it means making a choice that is strong and sure, not unsure or slow
- ✓Picture a person standing at a crossroad who quickly picks one path and starts walking confidently
- ✓It's the feeling when you solve a problem without waiting or worrying, feeling sure about what to do
- ✓Sounds like "de-SIZE-ive" → imagine cutting a big problem into smaller pieces to make a quick choice
- ✓Think of a sports game where one goal is decisive—it decides who wins the game
- ✓NOT like "unsure" (when you hesitate or feel confused), "decisive" means confident and firm
- ✓NOT like "slow" or "indecisive" (when someone cannot choose), "decisive" is quick and clear
- ✓NOT like "random" or "accidental"—a decisive action is planned and important, not by chance
🔄 Try Other Words
- •Firm: strong and steady (Use when emphasizing strength in decision or opinion)
- •Conclusive: final and proving something clearly (Use when talking about evidence or results that end doubt)
- •Determined: showing strong will to do something (Use when focusing on personal attitude to reach a decision)
- •Deciding: causing a final result (Use when focusing on the action or event that ends a situation)
🔍 Unboxing
- •Prefix: "de-" (often means "down" or "away," but here part of the root)
- •Root: "cis" from Latin "caedere" meaning "to cut" or "to kill"—related to cutting through doubt or options
- •Suffix: "-ive" meaning "having the quality of"
- •Etymology: From Latin "decidere" meaning "to cut off, to decide"
- •Historical development: Originally about "cutting off" other options to make a choice; now means making a firm and clear decision
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people, actions, or moments that show or cause a clear, important decision or result
💭 Reflect & Connect
•Can being too decisive ever cause problems? When might it be better to take more time to decide?
•How does being decisive help in your daily life or work? Can you think of a time when a decisive action changed what happened?
Fill in the blanks with the correct word:
1.A decisive leader does not ___ for a long time before making a choice.
2.The team's decisive win ___ their chance to go to the finals.
3.Unlike hesitation, being decisive means acting with ___ and confidence.
4.When she gave a decisive answer, the others knew the discussion was ___.
5.A decisive moment in history is one that ___ the future clearly.
6.People who are indecisive often find it hard to be ___.
7.The evidence was so decisive that the judge had no ___ but to agree.