as in determinative
providing or controlling a final outcome
The fact that she committed a crime is not dispositive of her claim that the police used excessive force in arresting her.
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Recent Examples of dispositive
These latest results are a bit more ambiguous but hardly dispositive.
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Felix Salmon, Axios, 26 July 2024
Those who were waiting on the sidelines for the next game served as a jury, although their verdict wasn’t necessarily dispositive.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024
Even if ethical, should or must the professional adviser permit themselves to be used to carry out dispositive plans that will cause harm?
Not infrequently, parents have disinherited a child out of anger.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
But under California law blood tests were not dispositive, and the case went to trial, where Chaplin was badly outlawyered.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for dispositive 
Felix Salmon, Axios, 26 July 2024
Those who were waiting on the sidelines for the next game served as a jury, although their verdict wasn’t necessarily dispositive.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 13 June 2024
Even if ethical, should or must the professional adviser permit themselves to be used to carry out dispositive plans that will cause harm?
Not infrequently, parents have disinherited a child out of anger.
—Martin Shenkman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024
But under California law blood tests were not dispositive, and the case went to trial, where Chaplin was badly outlawyered.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 13 Nov. 2023
See all Example Sentences for dispositive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dispositive
Adjective
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Of course, the frequency of the interactions is not determinative: after all, white slaveholders in the United States constantly interacted with their black slaves.Graham K. Brown, Foreign Affairs, 1 Mar. 2015
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That’s one of the reasons that some are arguing today that costs of running credit scores somehow plays a determinative role in driving prices up.Paul Weinstein Jr., Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Perez was serving a determinate term for assault with a firearm and gang activity, authorities said.Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 20 Sep. 2024
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Tomato plants are either determinate or indeterminate.Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 May 2024
Adjective
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Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world.Benji Jones, Vox, 24 Dec. 2024
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Sinema’s campaign-finance report didn’t make clear what activities were official Senate business and which were underwritten by her campaign.Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Amnesty International just published conclusive evidence that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and continues to do so.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 12 Dec. 2024
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The Atomic Energy Commission's investigation was not conclusive.Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near dispositive
Cite this Entry
“Dispositive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dispositive. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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