Definition of EXPLICATE

Other Words from explicate

explication \ ˌek-splə-ˈkā-shən

\ noun

explicator \ ˈek-splə-ˌkā-tər

\ noun

Choose the Right Synonym for explicate

explain, expound, explicate, elucidate, interpret mean to make something clear or understandable. explain implies a making plain or intelligible what is not immediately obvious or entirely known. explain the rules expound implies a careful often elaborate explanation. expounding a scientific theory explicate adds the idea of a developed or detailed analysis. explicate a poem elucidate stresses the throwing of light upon as by offering details or motives previously unclear or only implicit. elucidate an obscure passage interpret adds to explain the need for imagination or sympathy or special knowledge in dealing with something. interpreting a work of art

Examples of explicate in a Sentence

an essay explicating a theory the physicist did his best to explicate the wave theory of light for the audience of laymen

Recent Examples on the Web

The content of their conversation, combined with internal memos released and explicated by an anonymous internal whistleblower, were meant to demonstrate a pervasive and insidious left-wing bias at Google. — John Hirschauer, National Review, "Google Crusades for ‘Fairness’," 3 July 2019 In March, Whaley explicated the basics of quantum control of biological systems to a gathering of high school teachers at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics at the University of California, Santa Barbara. — Peter Byrne, Quanta Magazine, "In Pursuit of Quantum Biology With Birgitta Whaley," 30 July 2013 After spending thousands of words explicating the plight of Asians attempting to make it in New York, Yang spells out his contempt for the entire enterprise. — Jon Baskin, The New York Review of Books, "Invisible Men," 4 Apr. 2019 Millennia ago, mathematicians explicated the rational solutions to polynomials whose highest exponent is less than 3. — Quanta Magazine, "Mathematicians Shed Light on Minimalist Conjecture," 9 July 2013 His ability to explicate how war culture can absorb antiwar pronouncements is particularly striking. — Matt Gallagher, WSJ, "‘On War and Writing’ Review: The Rifle and the Pen," 24 May 2018 Here the authors celebrate Blackness and all of its hues while explicating the tensions between being seen and unseen all at once. — Valerie Strauss, Washington Post, "TEACHING FOR BLACK LIVES," 10 July 2018 In the words of Yaakov's blessing as explicated by Rashi: Troops (armies) shall be found of Gad. (Genesis 49:19) Still, when Joseph is sold Gad does not come forward to protect him. — Rabbi Avi Weiss, Jewish Journal, "In times of need, run to Israel rather than from it Opinion," 9 July 2018 Meanwhile, Secretary of Energy Rick Perry, who once wrote an entire book explicating his belief that the vast majority of the federal government violates the Constitution, is contemplating a new policy to support coal. — Jonathan Chait, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump’s Environmental Agenda No Longer Pretending to Care About the Free Market," 14 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'explicate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.