deliberate

/dɪˈlɪbɚət/
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Chosen or carried out with conscious thought, sometimes with careful slowness.

Examples

  • Was that pause deliberate?
  • She made a deliberate choice to wait.
  • They did not deliberate for long.
  • The jury deliberated for three hours.
  • She spoke in a calm, deliberate voice.

Similar words

unhurried
calculated
debate
considered
careful
purposeful
ponder
consider
measured
methodical

Meanings

Intentional or planned

adjective
everyday
neutral
Done consciously and on purpose, often after planning or thought.

Examples

  • The omission was deliberate, not an accident.
  • She made a deliberate choice to wait.
  • Was that pause deliberate?
  • The damage did not appear deliberate.
  • His deliberate exaggeration upset the team.

Similar words

Slow and careful

adjective
behavior
neutral
Moving, speaking, or acting slowly and carefully rather than in a hurry.

Examples

  • She spoke in a calm, deliberate voice.
  • His deliberate steps kept him steady on the ice.
  • The artist worked at a deliberate pace.
  • Her movements were slow and deliberate.
  • Why was he so deliberate with each answer?

Similar words

Consider carefully

verb
decisions
neutral
To think about or discuss a choice carefully before reaching a decision.

Examples

  • The jury deliberated for three hours.
  • We need time to deliberate before deciding.
  • The committee is deliberating whether to approve the plan.
  • They did not deliberate for long.
  • After deliberating carefully, she accepted the offer.

Similar words

Etymology

English borrowed the word from Latin deliberare, meaning to consider carefully or weigh well. Its image is linked to libra, a balance or pair of scales.

FAQ

What does deliberate mean?

Deliberate usually means intentional or carefully planned. It can also describe slow, careful action or mean to consider a decision.

How do you pronounce deliberate?

As an adjective, deliberate is /dɪˈlɪbɚət/. As a verb, its final syllable sounds like “rate”: /dɪˈlɪbəˌreɪt/.

Is deliberate the opposite of accidental?

Yes. In its intentional sense, deliberate is the opposite of accidental.

Can deliberate describe slow movement?

Yes. A deliberate movement is slow, steady, and carefully controlled.

What forms does the verb deliberate take?

The spelling-shifted forms are deliberated and deliberating.

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