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determined

determined

468 2.5
Wanting strongly to do something and not giving up
  • adjective
  • /dɪˈtɜrmɪnd/
: decidido
  • With a determined look on his face, he resolved to study harder for the upcoming exam.
  • determined effort
  • seem determined
  • determined to fight

MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards.

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Examples

  • Ari is lucky to have such a determined father.

  • Though she's still angry about what happened to her, she's determined not to be bitter.

    Academic text (2011)
  • It's hard to say exactly, but I was determined to not stop.

  • Why are you so determined to hold onto us?

  • Once I got to college, I was determined to become a new person.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • I was just determined to be better informed.

  • My colleagues' reaction only made me more determined to launch a successful project.

    Academic text (2015)
  • But this is a brave little girl; she's determined to get over the bridge.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Dedicated, intelligent, and charismatic, Jordan is determined to complete his mission at any cost, personal or military.

    Academic text (2013)
  • She was determined to finish her marathon training, despite the bad weather.

Synonyms

committed
vsdetermined
412 4.0

Shows loyalty and works hard for a cause or group

emphasizes a firm personal decision to act rather than loyalty over time
driven
vsdetermined
176 3.5

Very motivated to act because of strong inner feelings or outside pressure

relies on a firm intentional decision and steady commitment rather than sheer motivation
resolute
vsdetermined
22 4.9

Determined to do something and not likely to change

has identical meaning but differs only in wording
resolved
vsdetermined
14 4.2

Firm in deciding to do something and not willing to change your mind

focuses on lasting commitment rather than a single firm decision
dead set on
vsdetermined
  • Informal
9 4.8

Want something very much and do not change their mind

is steadier and less intense than single-minded goal focus

Antonyms

18 4.3

Slow to choose and unsure about what to do

3 5.5

A time when someone is unsure about a choice

How Determined

unwavering
24 5.8
resolute
22 4.9
determined
468 2.5
single-minded
18 4.4
firm
209 2.7

Surface Forms

determined positive

Morphology

determined = determine (transparent) = determine + ed

Formed as a participial adjective from 'determine' + '-ed'; the meaning 'firmly decided' is directly derived from the verb.

Etymology

Determined comes from the Latin determinare, which means 'to set limits' and is related to common words like term and terminal meaning 'end'. Think of someone who has set a clear goal and will not change it, which is why determined means firm and strongly decided.