decider
Who makes calls
A decider is someone who decides.
A competing and more popular term is decision-maker.
Decider began losing out to decision-maker in popularity in the 1940s and has not increased significantly since then, though there was a spike in usage during the presidency of George W.
Bush, who called himself “the decider” in the matter of whether to retain Donald Rumsfeld as Secretary of Defense against calls for his resignation.
One who settles disputes
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- power brokerInfluential behind-scenes dealmaker
- final sayUltimate deciding authority
- tiebreakerContest deciding drawn competitors
casting vote · adjudicator · moderator · referee · umpire · mediator · arbitrator · executive
Last and decisive
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- playoffContest deciding advancement
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
- eliminationAct of removing entirely
sudden death · tiebreaker · shootout · penalty · overtime · extra time · golden goal · match point
Fact that settles matters
- determinantMatrix-derived scalar quantity
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
- tipping pointThreshold triggering major change
pivotal moment · make-or-break · key factor · critical moment · crux · watershed · defining moment · catalyst
Firmness of purpose
- selectionChosen item or items
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- optionAvailable course of action
- alternativeAnother available choice
pick · volition · election · discretion · judgment · deliberation · resolve · consideration
arbiter
One who settles disputes
- kingmakerPolitical influence wielder
- power brokerInfluential behind-scenes dealmaker
- final sayUltimate deciding authority
tiebreaker · casting vote · adjudicator · moderator · referee · umpire · mediator · arbitrator · executive · chairman
final
Last and decisive
- championshipCompetition for top rank
- playoffContest deciding advancement
- knockoutIncapacitating final blow
elimination · sudden death · tiebreaker · shootout · penalty · overtime · extra time · golden goal · match point · set point
clincher
Fact that settles matters
- determinantMatrix-derived scalar quantity
- turning pointDecisive moment of change
- game-changerSomething transforming everything
pivotal moment · tipping point · make-or-break · key factor · critical moment · crux · watershed · defining moment · catalyst · flashpoint
determination
Firmness of purpose
- selectionChosen item or items
- preferenceFavored choice among alternatives
- optionAvailable course of action
alternative · pick · volition · election · discretion · judgment · deliberation · resolve · consideration · inclination
- Decisive Momentsfinal round, tiebreaker, sudden death, overtime, gold medal match
- epic gameschampionship game, playoff game, title match, showdown, semifinal
- playoff termswild card, semifinal, quarterfinal, final, championship
- tiebreakerssudden death, penalty shootout, overtime, tiebreak, extra innings
- showdownsshowdown, face-off, faceoff, confrontation, duel
- Snookersnooker, cue, cue ball, pot, pocket
deciderfollower
One who supports another
subordinate · subject · pawn · puppet · bystander
deciderditherer
Perpetually indecisive person
waverer · vacillator · fence-sitter · equivocator · procrastinator
- deciding gameContest determining overall winner
- deciding setFinal game after split
decide, decided, deciding, undecided, decides, deciders, undecidable