1
2
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
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
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Recent Examples of cipher
Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Like Dostoyevsky, Capote doesn’t portray his killers as demonic ciphers, instead capturing their messy complexity.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 11 Jan. 2026
Tor Constantino, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
An Enigma ciphering machine that was donated to the museum by telecommunications company SIRTI.Photo: Cantalupi, Pavia
One of the artifacts from SIRTI collection was a German ciphering machine used in World War II, an Enigma, Savini says.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for cipher
Noun
The Blind Owl is extremely dense, brimming with metaphors and ciphers and symbols.
—Amir Ahmadi Arian, The Dial, 15 Jan. 2026
Like Dostoyevsky, Capote doesn’t portray his killers as demonic ciphers, instead capturing their messy complexity.
—Patrick Radden Keefe, New Yorker, 11 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
An Enigma ciphering machine that was donated to the museum by telecommunications company SIRTI.Photo: Cantalupi, Pavia
One of the artifacts from SIRTI collection was a German ciphering machine used in World War II, an Enigma, Savini says.
—IEEE Spectrum, 11 Feb. 2020
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
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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
Noun
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Unlike some of his more strapping forebears (think Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, or Aaron Eckhart), Odenkirk specializes in nobodies and normals: people one would not expect to be killing machines.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After all, why listen to a podcast with two nobodies co-hosting when a listener can get an hour from a familiar celebrity.—
Frank Racioppi,
Forbes.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The person who finds the extra layer of life might broadcast it immediately but then might figure, Wait a second, why are all these people coming to me?—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
25 May 2026
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So the major upsets may be fewer, but that figures to be less because of expansion itself than the consequences of the other market forces.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
24 May 2026
Noun
-
The game seemed destined for eternal zeroes.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The Cubs did just enough to scratch a run across against Braves lefty Chris Sale, and the bullpen kept tossing up zeros en route to a 2-0 victory to snap a four-game losing streak.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
Beneath extraordinarily dry skies, travelers can watch the Milky Way stretch overhead while the Magellanic Clouds — two dwarf galaxies visible only from the southern hemisphere — slowly rotate around the south celestial pole.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2026
-
Many native and non-native shrubs that bloom in spring also are good nectar sources, such as dwarf fothergilla, chokeberry, winterberry holly, Virginia sweetspire, Carolina allspice, beautyberry and viburnums.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2026
Verb
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The researchers calculated that cement made from silicate rocks could require less than 60 percent of the energy needed to process limestone while cutting associated carbon dioxide emissions by more than 80 percent.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
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These numbers are used to calculate your biological age, and to inform what kind of exercise and nutrition changes might help improve any markers that are out of range.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Try falconry, fly-fishing camps, rock climbing, zip-line courses, hiking, biking and whitewater rafting without leaving the grounds.—
Jennifer Kester,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2026
-
The half-zip neckline gives this lounge set a slightly sportier feel while still looking elevated enough for travel days.—
Samantha Leal,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
Noun
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The pants feature the line’s signature lightweight, four-way-stretch fabric and a high-rise, dig-free waistband, too.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
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From lightweight, heat‑resistant foundations to hair care tailored for humidity and texture diversity, these brands are solving problems that international players historically misunderstood or ignored.—
FMG Studios,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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