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

Beauty was the configuration of my mother’s deliberate care.

From Los Angeles Times

There are no recognisable celebrities in the advert, something Charlotte Lock, customer director at John Lewis, told the BBC was deliberate.

From BBC

The country's solicitor general, Jorge Messias, condemned what he said was a deliberate attack and vowed a full investigation into the blasts would be launched.

From BBC

However, Mr Bailey said the prosecution's case was that Ms Riaz's injuries were caused by "sustained, persistent, deliberate, and intentional application of severe force".

From BBC

While the evidence of Israel’s repeated and deliberate attacks on health care infrastructure has been presented to the world, many health care professionals and their patients have asked the international community why their calls for intervention are being ignored — and wonder where the solidarity is with health care workers in Gaza.

From Salon

Related Words

Delian League deliberately

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