CIPHER Synonyms: 106 Similar and Opposite Words

cipher 1 of 2

noun

ˈsī-fər

Definition of cipher

as in nothing

the numerical symbol 0 or the absence of number or quantity represented by it remember to put the cipher after the decimal point

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in nobody

a person of no importance or influence it was either write the Great American Novel or be consigned to the status of a cipher in the annals of literature

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cipher

2 of 2

verb

as in to figure

to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations were surprised by how much we had spent on the cruise after we had ciphered out the grand total

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of cipher

Noun

The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle. — Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026 Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026

Verb

The real challenge from AI will likely emerge in the weeks and months ahead as firms cipher through Judge Mehta’s enforcement of behavioral requirements. — Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025 These remnants, signals from an earlier phase of our human condition, have been endlessly ciphered by generations of archaeologists in the Bears Ears region (which is named for twin buttes near its center). — Stephen Nash, New York Times, 25 July 2017 See All Example Sentences for cipher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cipher

Noun

While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026
When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Jan. 2026

Definition of nothing

Noun

Yvonne and Nick’s disastrous wedding dinner is the day the cast went from nobodies to actual practitioners of the reality-television arts and sciences.

— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.

— Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 4 June 2026

Definition of nobody

Noun

For those on a budget with slightly less zeroes, RPM Bakehouse is a more laissez-faire, cafe-slash bakery.

— Kate Dingwall, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Kids whose families had been chased out of half of Europe started the picture studios, the scrap yards that became fortunes, and eventually the software companies that created a whole new world of ones and zeros.

— Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026

Definition of zero

Noun

And the question is whether the planets even have atmospheres, because M dwarfs are quite active.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 9 July 2026
Fell also recommends using tall plants for support, including okra or sweet corn; dwarf varieties of corn are known to do well in containers.

— Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 July 2026

Definition of dwarf

Verb

If all goes to plan, orders are slated to ship to select countries in September 2026, and delivery costs will be calculated once the campaign ends (free for orders from the US, Canada, Japan, Hong Kong, China, and EU).

— Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 14 July 2026
Unfortunately, most people are far more likely to run into questions of budgeting and investing than, say, calculating the area of a triangle (some professions aside).

— Becca Stanek, TheWeek, 13 July 2026

Definition of calculate

Noun

Both halves zip shut, unlike many suitcases, which either have a zippered divider on only one side or rely solely on compression pads, leaving items partially exposed.

— Morgan Ashley Parker, Travel + Leisure, 13 July 2026
The drone zips along a pre-programmed grid for 15 minutes, capturing up to 3,000 measurements.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of zip

Noun

The Gforce Jersey Travel Blanket provides a comfortable layer between me and aggressive air while remaining lightweight enough for year-round use.

— Brandon Schultz, Travel + Leisure, 6 July 2026
In June 2024, the UFC matched Makhachev against former interim UFC lightweight titleholder Dustin Poirier.

— Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

Definition of lightweight

Cite this Entry

Style

“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 16 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cipher

noun

verb

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