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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
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
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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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But after finishing first in the Smythe Division for six straight seasons from 1981-82 until 1986-87, the Oilers apparently figured that was enough.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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And that alone would figure to be a deal killer from a Hawks perspective.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Players with lots of recruiting stars next to their names and coaches with lots of zeroes on their paychecks.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 Jan. 2026
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According to Su, the current compute infrastructure runs at 100 zetaflops, but to serve 5 billion AI users worldwide, this needs to be raised to 10 Yottaflops (10 followed by 20 zeros).—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Skip cosmetic pruning of conifers during the coldest part of winter and delay shaping trims for ornamental yews, junipers, boxwoods, and tree-type conifers like dwarf spruces until after the new flush of growth in spring.—
Andy Wilcox,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
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Care Requirements When cultivating a dwarf apple tree indoors, choose a container with drainage holes that has a top diameter of 18 to 22 inches or a capacity of 15 to 25 gallons.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Department of Finance, which calculates its projections differently, is expected to estimate a smaller deficit than the LAO.—
Lia Russell,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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The spokesperson said information about how utilities are calculated is provided to residents.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Forever Fleece Half-zip Hoodie Your new favorite joggers deserve a matching top, and this Forever Fleece Half-zip Hoodie gets our vote.—
Amelia McBride,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
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Each seat is equipped with no-nonsense, hurricane-ready cushions that have thick, washable zip covers for breezy cleaning.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Its lightweight, metal frame is easy for one person to maneuver, and the size reflects enough light to make even your shoebox feel grand.—
Erika Owen,
Architectural Digest,
12 Jan. 2026
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The Samsonite Winfield 2 Hardside Expandable Checked Bag is a Travel + Leisure editor favorite, thanks to its lightweight yet durable shell.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 15 Jan. 2026.
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