: characterized by or resulting from careful and thorough consideration
a deliberate decision
Ms. Barker herself has said that the decision to write about the war was a deliberate response to patronizing reviews of her working-class settings … Claudia Roth Pierpont
2
: characterized by awareness of the consequences
a deliberate exaggeration
a deliberate act of protest
3
: slow, unhurried, and steady as though allowing time for decision on each individual action involved
voluntary implies freedom and spontaneity of choice or action without external compulsion.
a voluntary confession
intentional stresses an awareness of an end to be achieved.
the intentional concealment of vital information
deliberate implies full consciousness of the nature of one's act and its consequences.
deliberate acts of sabotage
willing implies a readiness and eagerness to accede to or anticipate the wishes of another.
willing obedience
Example Sentences
Verb The jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict. They will deliberate the question. Adjective She spoke in a clear, deliberate manner. He advocates a slow and deliberate approach to the problem.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Harsin will deliberate with his staff Sunday afternoon, and the players have Monday off before Tuesday’s start of classes at the university. Nubyjas Wilborn | Nwilborn@al.com, al, 14 Aug. 2022 On Monday, a jury will continue to deliberate the fate of former Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officer Thomas Robertson, charged with multiple felony counts including obstructing Congress' certification of the electoral college votes. Scott Macfarlane, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2022 As states continue to deliberate how children can safely attend school amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 isn't the only illness on people's minds. Valerie Pavilonis, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2022 The jury had asked on Monday to review certain pieces of evidence after being sent back to deliberate with more than 600 pieces of evidence that were introduced during the trial. Taylor Hartz, Hartford Courant, 10 May 2022 After hearing the new instructions, the jury was sent back to deliberate the three charges further. Tim De Chant, Ars Technica, 3 Jan. 2022 After closing arguments Wednesday morning, the jury will be instructed on the law and then sent to deliberate. Omar Jimenez, CNN, 8 Dec. 2021 Jury deliberations begin in Rittenhouse trial Following two weeks of proceedings and eight days of testimony, the jury in Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial has been sent away to deliberate.Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 16 Nov. 2021 Jurors were sent back to deliberate around 3:30 p.m. Thursday after a few hours of closing arguments and reached their decision about 5:15 p.m.NBC News, 8 Oct. 2021
Adjective
Law enforcement officers worry the candy-colored pills are being produced as a deliberate effort to drive addiction amongst children and young adults, DEA Administrator Anne Milgram said in a statement. Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2022 From eliminating menthol flavoring to capping nicotine levels, the FDA has made a deliberate effort to capitalize on the existing and new authorities granted by Congress. Michael B. Farber And Anand Shah, STAT, 27 Aug. 2022 There is no question that this was a deliberate effort. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 26 Aug. 2022 But Toboni suggested that approach was a reflection of the players who were available rather than a deliberate effort to target a specific type. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 16 July 2022 If voters were still forced to identify a finite number of nominees, many would make a more deliberate effort to spread their votes amongst a larger number of shows. Scott Feinberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 July 2022 And after a deliberate effort to program feel-good films in 2021 – a recognition by the programming team that its pandemic-weary audience was looking for a pick-me-up – Chirilov says Transilvania has also reclaimed its old pugnacious spirit. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 16 June 2022 In a number of European countries, that’s directly related to their deliberate effort to wean themselves off dependence on Russian energy imports. Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 June 2022 In branding the Eames Institute, there’s a deliberate effort to flip the order of the Eames’s names. Anne Quito, Quartz, 3 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Verb
Middle English, from Latin deliberatus, past participle of deliberare to consider carefully, perhaps alteration of *delibrare, from de- + libra scale, pound