as in illuminating
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in filtering
to remove usually visible impurities from
clarify the melted butter by skimming off the milky bits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable
it would help if you could clarify your position for us
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clarifying
Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
It’s been very clarifying and really, for lack of a better word, helpful, in framing for us, really, and reminding us what, what this festival is, what is Mr. Redford’s legacy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
And that was a clarifying moment for me in my understanding of their relationship.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
Working at the Taller de Gráfica Popular allowed for a clarifying moment of vision, one that drove her work—politically and artistically—for the rest of her life.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
But this was a clarifying moment for me, as the photo’s release validated other information my source had been sharing in recent weeks.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024
These compositions have surprising emotional impact and a clarifying depth.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024
The most clarifying political moment of the era came with the 1912 presidential election, when corporate concentration was explicitly on the ballot.
—Zephyr Teachout, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020
Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Start by clarifying priorities and boundaries this morning, then build steady momentum through the afternoon as support gathers and timing clicks into place.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Skeptics point out oral exams can be unsettling for students who are shy or have serious anxiety, but clarifying the format ahead of time and starting with softball questions can help, says Carolyn Aslan, who leads Cornell’s oral exam training.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
After answering questions about your health history and current symptoms, a provider will view your information through a secure platform and message you with any clarifying questions.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
More than two decades later, the instruction strikes him as both dismissive and clarifying.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Haidilao’s corporate offices have yet to issue a statement clarifying the incident.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But the Walker signing was clarifying in multiple ways, including that the Chiefs by committing to him now virtually must prioritize corresponding moves to revive the receiver room and add edge rusher(s).
—Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
There will, hopefully, come a time when such a win won’t require a note clarifying racial identity.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
As the Virgo Moon arrives November 13 to 15, things get even more introspective, but in the best, most clarifying way.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
It’s been very clarifying and really, for lack of a better word, helpful, in framing for us, really, and reminding us what, what this festival is, what is Mr. Redford’s legacy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
And that was a clarifying moment for me in my understanding of their relationship.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
Working at the Taller de Gráfica Popular allowed for a clarifying moment of vision, one that drove her work—politically and artistically—for the rest of her life.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
But this was a clarifying moment for me, as the photo’s release validated other information my source had been sharing in recent weeks.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024
These compositions have surprising emotional impact and a clarifying depth.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024
The most clarifying political moment of the era came with the 1912 presidential election, when corporate concentration was explicitly on the ballot.
—Zephyr Teachout, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020
Verb
Stepping outside your everyday life has a way of clarifying what actually matters, and returning home with fresh eyes often makes the decisions that felt tough seem far more manageable.
—Kirah Tabourn, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Mar. 2026
Start by clarifying priorities and boundaries this morning, then build steady momentum through the afternoon as support gathers and timing clicks into place.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Mar. 2026
Skeptics point out oral exams can be unsettling for students who are shy or have serious anxiety, but clarifying the format ahead of time and starting with softball questions can help, says Carolyn Aslan, who leads Cornell’s oral exam training.
—Jocelyn Gecker, Fortune, 25 Mar. 2026
After answering questions about your health history and current symptoms, a provider will view your information through a secure platform and message you with any clarifying questions.
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
More than two decades later, the instruction strikes him as both dismissive and clarifying.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Haidilao’s corporate offices have yet to issue a statement clarifying the incident.
—Linda Zavoral, Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2026
But the Walker signing was clarifying in multiple ways, including that the Chiefs by committing to him now virtually must prioritize corresponding moves to revive the receiver room and add edge rusher(s).
—Kansas City Star, 16 Mar. 2026
There will, hopefully, come a time when such a win won’t require a note clarifying racial identity.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 16 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
In one of the novel’s most illuminating scenes, Emily explains her novel to her sisters, reaching for their worn copy of Paradise Lost to make her point.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Mar. 2026
-
The gals’ night together becomes an illuminating, madcap journey, transforming their feud into friendship.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The pro game has a way of filtering out two-way players with haste.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
These organs are divided into hundreds of tiny filtering units that help expel a ton of salt.—
Sara Kiley Watson,
Popular Science,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Board member David Young suggested the county could devise some kind of explanation or message on the county’s website explaining the reason for the changes, and Gumz asked Lasky to come up with language for a potential disclaimer for the website to be considered by the committee.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
When asked about the defective cameras in the jail and the lack of a clear timeline explaining how Epstein was able to take his own life, Blanche acknowledged mistakes.—
Erik Ortiz,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
As the ceremony went on, his material focused on mocking things that undermine respect for the movies with bits about ads interrupting streaming movies, vertical video, and overly explanatory movie dialogue.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The Associated Press receives support from the Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Naturium and Soft Services also offer thoughtful blends that incorporate ingredients such as allantoin and glycerin to soothe and hydrate while refining the skin.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
23 Mar. 2026
-
The ship’s builder, Chantiers de l’Atlantique, first introduced the concept for a modern sailing cruise ship, known as Eoseas, in 2009 and has since continued refining the design for large passenger vessels.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The last Ag Reserve snapshot illustrating the breakdown is from 2023, which county officials recently presented during a 2025 meeting.—
Abigail Hasebroock,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
-
One of Mexico’s largest retailers is laying off workers in its fintech startup while scaling back its ambitions — illustrating the difficulty of establishing a foothold in the nation’s increasingly competitive financial system.—
Amy Stillman,
Bloomberg,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In any context, everyone is justified in resisting or repelling any invasion of their person or property, extracting restitution or exacting punishment in response to an invasion, or helping someone else do the same.—
Connor Okeeffe,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Afghanistan joined Iran as countries singled out by the United States for detaining Americans in hopes of extracting policy concessions.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No student in German can graduate without demonstrating a detailed knowledge and understanding of the Holocaust.—
Terry Gross,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Institutions that once at least feigned being an ally are now demonstrating the opposite.—
Ron Stodghill,
Miami Herald,
23 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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