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

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

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3
4
5
as in to perch
to come to rest after descending from the air birds settling on the branches of the maple tree

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6
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8
as in to contain
to gain emotional or mental control of settled himself only with visible effort after the angry outburst

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9
10
11
as in to shush
to stop the noise or speech of settled the class with a firm "quiet!"

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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 The team settled on a patient with SD Autism Spectrum disorder who had an ankle sprain but frustrated Dr. Langdon (Patrick Ball) with his endless questions. Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025 The lawsuit was settled in 2024 for $1.85 million, according to NBC News, but the emotional damage remains. Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 9 Apr. 2025 The lawsuit was settled out of court in 2024, with the 11 teens receiving $1.85 million. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 9 Apr. 2025 They are now settled in the Jackson, Wyo., community run by Joel's sister-in-law, Maria (Rutina Wesley), but the pair's relationship is strained. Nick Romano, EW.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for settle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for settle
Verb
  • Today, although grizzlies appear on California’s flag and seal, none inhabit the state’s woodlands.
    Sharon Udasin, The Hill, 16 Apr. 2025
  • It was inhabited by Count Lemmo Rossi Scotti, who spent his days painting and tending to the garden.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Rudd agrees and, delighted by the experience, returns the favor for Samberg, who decides to don only a T-shirt for his portrait.
    Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • The courts have issued several orders that the Trump administration has ignored, and the courts must decide what to do about it.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Lithos arranges for the dust to be collected at the rock quarries and transported to local farms.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Last week, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court's decision ordering the Trump administration to arrange Abrego Garcia’s return.
    Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Head to Dockside Restaurant for a relaxed Carolina seafood spot perched right on the water's edge.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2025
  • Tina Fey is wearing a matching pajama set, perched on the edge of an oversized chair and discussing her tenure as a receptionist at the Evanston, Illinois, YMCA in the early ’90s.
    Mikey O'Connell, HollywoodReporter, 16 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The £200m sale is now being scrutinised by the Premier League from a fair market value perspective — and the profit Chelsea lodged as a result may be adjusted if they are deemed to have inflated Chelsea Women’s price.
    Matt Slater, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • During mating, one or both palps are detached and left lodged inside the female’s reproductive tract.
    Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At the microscopic level, fluids are composed of particles—little billiard balls bopping around and occasionally colliding—and Newton’s laws of motion work well to describe their trajectories.
    Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 14 Apr. 2025
  • New Shepard is composed of both a rocket and a crew capsule, which is outfitted with large windows for its passengers to gaze out of during the roughly 11-minute spaceflight.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 13 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • After the fire is fully contained, the next step is to control it.
    CA WILDFIRE BOT, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So McMahon and the Pullman community, who share her love for the church in Historical Pullman National Park, have banded together to pay the roughly $20,000 bill and reopen the church.
    Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Werner heard that one of her scholarships—which had been administered by the center—was being eliminated, sending her into a panic about how to pay for school.
    Emma Green, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Settle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/settle. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.

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