decided

decided, decisive are often confused, especially when they mean positive and leaving no room for doubt, uncertainty, or further discussion. In this sense the words are applied chiefly to persons, their natures, their utterances or manner of utterance, their opinions, or their choices.

Decided implies a contrast with what is undetermined, indefinite, and neither this nor that; thus, a decided blue raises no question of its greenness or blackness; a decided success so far overpasses the line between success and failure that no one can question its favorable termination; a decided answer leaves no doubt of a person's meaning, wishes, or intentions. When applied to a person's character, expression, or movements decided suggests such qualities or outward signs of qualities as determination, resolution, and lack of all hesitation or vacillation

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the mother was a decided person to whose will everyone in the family submitted

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he has very decided opinions

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I see too many ways of saying things; a more decided mind hits on the right way at once— Ward

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then with a decided step she turned toward home— Wharton

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Decisive, on the other hand, implies an opposition to what is unsettled, uncertain, or wavering between this and that (for this sense as applied to things see CONCLUSIVE). When used in reference to persons it implies ability or intent to settle or success in settling a controverted matter once and for all

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this was enough to determine Sir Thomas, and a decisive "Then so it shall be" closed that stage of the business— Austen

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she stood up and surveyed herself in the pier glass. The decisive expression of her great florid face satisfied her— Joyce

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Analogous words: *definite, definitive: determined, resolved (see DECIDE): positive, cocksure, certain, *sure: categorical, *explicit, express

Contrasted words: dubious, *doubtful, questionable, problematic