deliberate

Done because someone wants it to happen, rather than by accident.

• That was a deliberate lie.
• She made a deliberate choice to stay.
• Was the damage deliberate or accidental?

Similar words: intentional, planned

Opposites: accidental, unintentional

Common phrases: deliberate act, deliberate attempt, deliberate mistake

Decided or planned after careful thought.

• It was a deliberate choice.
• We took a deliberate approach to the problem.
• Her deliberate decisions reflected years of experience.

Similar words: considered, thoughtful

Opposites: rash, impulsive

Common phrases: deliberate choice, deliberate decision, deliberate approach

Taking time to think carefully before making a choice.

• She is a deliberate thinker.
• Our deliberate manager considers every option carefully.
• He remained deliberate even when others demanded a quick answer.

Similar words: thoughtful, careful, considerate

Opposites: impulsive, hasty

Common phrases: deliberate thinker, deliberate person

To think carefully about something before deciding what to do.

• The jury deliberated for hours.
• We deliberated over several possible solutions.
• Have you finished deliberating about the offer?

How to use it: deliberate over/on/about something (The committee deliberated over the proposal.); deliberate whether to do something (They deliberated whether to accept the offer.)

Similar words: consider, weigh, think over

Common phrases: deliberate over something, deliberate on something, deliberate about something