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clear

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verb

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as in to open
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops

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as in to pay
to give what is owed for finally cleared the last debt

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as in to empty
to remove the contents of cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes

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as in to smooth
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions plows promptly cleared the roads of snow

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as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile

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clear

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adverb

as in through

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clear are limpid, translucent, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When could limpid be used to replace clear?

Although the words limpid and clear have much in common, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When can translucent be used instead of clear?

The synonyms translucent and clear are sometimes interchangeable, but translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would transparent be a good substitute for clear?

While the synonyms transparent and clear are close in meaning, transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

Examples of clear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Skies could be clear in the early evening with cloud cover increasing as the night progresses, but no chance of rain. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 25 Oct. 2024 Whether Ivanishvili wanted candidate status is not clear. Christian Edwards, CNN, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Start by clearing the surface of any clutter and dishes, and wipe up any major spills. Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024 The coroner’s office ruled the Alameda death a homicide, but O’Malley cleared the three cops. East Bay Times Editorial, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024
Adverb
So Selleck and Clint Eastwood steered clear as Travolta famously danced with Princess Diana at a White House state dinner thrown by President Ronald Reagan and Nancy Reagan in November 1985. Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 13 May 2024 Our rights to engage with likeminded voters and encourage them to vote for @KamalaHarris – the clear better choice for the country – will not be suppressed. Brady Knox, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for clear 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near clear

Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

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