Word
decisive
Meanings
able to make decisions quickly and confidently
having a final and very important effect on the result of something
Definition
Able to make choices quickly and confidently, often leading to clear results.
If someone is decisive, they can make a firm decision without unnecessary delay or hesitation. This often helps them take effective action and move a situation forward. The word can also describe an action, moment, or factor that has a strong and final effect on an outcome.
Examples
- I was decisive about switching teams once I saw how the project scope had changed.
- You sound decisive, so the group will probably follow your recommendation.
- He stayed calm and decisive during the outage, delegating tasks with clear priorities.
- She made a decisive argument in the debate, and the room’s mood shifted immediately.
- They were decisive in the final minutes, turning a messy discussion into a workable plan.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "decisive" (able to decide) with "decided" (already having made up one’s mind).
More at C1 level
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- xenophobia Xenophobia is a strong dislike or fear of people from other countries or cultures.
- genocide Genocide is the deliberate killing of a large number of people from a particular group in order to …
- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More adjectives
- agnostic An agnostic is someone who does not claim to know whether God exists.
- pragmatic Pragmatic means focused on practical results rather than ideals or theories.
- ubiquitous Present, appearing, or found everywhere at the same time.
- cynical Cynical describes believing that people are mainly motivated by self-interest and not sincere.
- apathetic Apathetic means showing little or no interest, concern, or enthusiasm.