View synonyms for deliberate

deliberate

[ adjective dih-lib-er-it; verb dih-lib-uh-reyt ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

carefully weighed or considered; studied; intentional:
a deliberate lie.
Synonyms: willful, purposive, conscious
Antonyms: accidental
characterized by deliberation or cautious consideration; careful or slow in deciding:
Moving away from the city and all its advantages required a deliberate decision.
Synonyms: cautious, circumspect, thoughtful, methodical
Antonyms: rash, precipitate, impulsive
leisurely and steady in movement or action; slow and even; unhurried:
moving with a deliberate step.

verb (used with object)

, de·lib·er·at·ed, de·lib·er·at·ing.

to weigh in the mind; consider:
to deliberate a question.
Synonyms: ponder

verb (used without object)

, de·lib·er·at·ed, de·lib·er·at·ing.

to think carefully or attentively; reflect:
She deliberated for a long time before giving her decision.
Synonyms: ruminate, cogitate
to consult or confer formally:
The jury deliberated for three hours.

deliberate

adjective

carefully thought out in advance; planned; studied; intentional
a deliberate insult
careful or unhurried in speech or action
a deliberate pace

verb

to consider (something) deeply; ponder; think over

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Derived Forms

deˈliberateness, noun
deˈliberˌator, noun
deˈliberately, adverb

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Other Words From

de·lib·er·ate·ly adverb
de·lib·er·ate·ness noun
de·lib·er·a·tor noun
non·de·lib·er·ate adjective
non·de·lib·er·ate·ness noun
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate verb overdeliberated overdeliberating
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate adjective
o·ver·de·lib·er·ate·ness noun
pre·de·lib·er·ate verb (used with object) predeliberated predeliberating
pre·de·lib·er·ate adjective
qua·si-de·lib·er·ate adjective
re·de·lib·er·ate verb redeliberated redeliberating
un·de·lib·er·ate adjective
un·de·lib·er·ate·ness noun
un·de·lib·er·at·ing adjective
un·de·lib·er·at·ing·ly adverb
well-de·lib·er·at·ed adjective

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Word History and Origins

Origin of deliberate¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin dēlīberātus (past participle of dēlīberāre “to consider”), equivalent to dē- “from, away from” + līber(āre) “to balance, weigh” (derivative of lībra “balance, scales”) + -ātus past participle suffix; de-, -ate ¹

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Word History and Origins

Origin of deliberate¹

C15: from Latin dēlīberāre to consider well, from lībrāre to weigh, from lībra scales

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Synonym Study

Deliberate, intentional, premeditated, voluntary refer to something not happening by chance. Deliberate is applied to what is done not hastily but with full realization of what one is doing: a deliberate attempt to evade justice. Intentional is applied to what is definitely intended or done on purpose: an intentional omission. Premeditated is applied to what has been planned in advance: a premeditated crime. Voluntary is applied to what is done by a definite exercise of the will and not because of outward pressures: a voluntary enlistment. See slow.

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Example Sentences

The committee report also accused Richardson of obstructing the committee investigation “through the alteration or destruction of evidence” and “the deliberate failure to produce documents.”

From Los Angeles Times

The jury, at the High Court in Dublin, had been deliberating since Thursday afternoon before returning their verdict that McGregor did assault Ms Hand.

From BBC

"The court in The Hague accuses us of a deliberate policy of starvation," the Israeli PM said.

From BBC

Instead, the director, Sahra Mani, makes the deliberate choice to clear the way for her subjects to reach the audience directly, in their own words.

From New York Times

According to prosecutors, Smith-Griffin orchestrated “a deliberate and calculated scheme to deceive investors in AllHere Education, Inc., inflating the company’s financials to secure millions of dollars under false pretenses.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

Delian League deliberately

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