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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
PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
She, the cinema; he, the audience — these ciphers would be compelling in short-form, but in carrying a feature they’re only buoyed by the natural chemistry of their performers.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
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
Noun
Such ciphers are easy to crack using techniques such as checking letter frequency and identifying common patterns.
—PC Magazine, 7 Oct. 2025
She, the cinema; he, the audience — these ciphers would be compelling in short-form, but in carrying a feature they’re only buoyed by the natural chemistry of their performers.
—Blake Simons, IndieWire, 6 Sep. 2025
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
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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
-
Why did her mom press so hard for the littlest of nothings?—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
4 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Many of Newsom’s critics who breathlessly report on his evil plans (that the left-wing mainstream media supposedly cover up) are just nobodies who feign authority and are obviously fronting for right-wing organizations.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
16 Dec. 2025
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Where else could award winning writers pop off about nothing at all, and nobodies could rattle the ivory towers?—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Content creation as a leadership skill also defines your position in the industry as an expert outside of your role, a go-to figure who can be trusted for decision-making and industry recommendations and advice.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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So figure that Miley Cyrus and Teddy Swims are both long shots.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The Ducks dominated the first period by every measure except the score, with zeros remaining on the board as the teams headed to their respective dressing rooms.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
14 Jan. 2026
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And even that isn’t conceded until the game clock strikes triple zeroes.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ditch that’s up to 19 feet deep dwarfs the heavy machinery inside of it.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
26 Jan. 2026
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Selections available on the market include ‘Pride of Houston’, a medium to tall female shrub with a heavy fruit set, and ‘Schillings Dwarf’, a dwarf selection that grows only 3–4 feet tall and wide.—
Daniel Scott,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While black holes represent the theory's most extreme manifestation, the same mathematics is essential for calculating the subtle but measurable time differences experienced by satellites orbiting Earth.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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Surprised, the team performed a sanity check—the researchers calculated heritability in the traditional way for twins born between 1900 and 1935, an era when rapid medical advances steadily curtailed premature death.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Another quick option is to place a stick of unwrapped butter in a plastic zip-top bag.—
Molly Allen,
Southern Living,
1 Feb. 2026
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The thoughtful safety details—like the front snap pocket, secure zip-top compartment, and interior pockets—provide peace of mind that everything will stay in place.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Get your deck or patio ready with these lightweight, waterproof seats.—
Jacquelyn McGilvray,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
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The featherweight title was left vacant ahead of UFC 314 when Topuria moved up to lightweight, winning that belt at UFC 317 with a knockout victory over Charles Oliveira.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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