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
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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
Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
These patients are less likely to ask clarifying questions, more likely to misinterpret discharge instructions, and more likely to present later and sicker.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Frazee tried to highlight this distinction in an early March thread, clarifying how Bluesky developers use AI behind the scenes.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
The forms and decorations of these items matched those found at other Yaz sites, such as Kuchuktepa and Yaztepa, clarifying who built this advanced urban center.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
The full moon in your sign on April 1 brought light to your innermost feelings, clarifying everything from your needs to your role in a significant partnership.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
After an overly mopey Season 1, letting our series lead actually take pleasure in a life that most people can only dream about is a smart shift, but Tropper also gives Coop two distinct, disparate, and clarifying obstacles.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Taryn Manning is clarifying an incident captured on video, and making accusations against the woman at the center of it all.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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
Shoemaker said the forecast could be drier come Tuesday, clarifying that road conditions depend on Caltrans closure decisions.
—Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 11 Apr. 2026
These patients are less likely to ask clarifying questions, more likely to misinterpret discharge instructions, and more likely to present later and sicker.
—Torie Bosch, STAT, 11 Apr. 2026
Frazee tried to highlight this distinction in an early March thread, clarifying how Bluesky developers use AI behind the scenes.
—ArsTechnica, 7 Apr. 2026
The forms and decorations of these items matched those found at other Yaz sites, such as Kuchuktepa and Yaztepa, clarifying who built this advanced urban center.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
The full moon in your sign on April 1 brought light to your innermost feelings, clarifying everything from your needs to your role in a significant partnership.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 6 Apr. 2026
After an overly mopey Season 1, letting our series lead actually take pleasure in a life that most people can only dream about is a smart shift, but Tropper also gives Coop two distinct, disparate, and clarifying obstacles.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 2 Apr. 2026
Taryn Manning is clarifying an incident captured on video, and making accusations against the woman at the center of it all.
—Taijuan Moorman, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
In this debut that centers Native Hawaiian mythology against contemporary issues, history and the present come together in illuminating ways.—
Emma Alpern,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
-
However, many statistics can be useful and illuminating.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While falling oil prices may ease immediate inflation fears, the broader impact of energy spikes during the war is still filtering through the global economy.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
8 Apr. 2026
-
Instead, the record pulls from a specific strain of ’80s Australian rock, filtering it through a darker, post-punk lens inspired by bands like the Sisters of Mercy and Magazine.—
SPIN Staff,
SPIN,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
So the two simplest logical paths for explaining neutrino mass led to the same place.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In these three hours, Euphoria is mostly just reassembling the board, explaining everyone’s lingering connections and building up to Nate and Cassie’s wedding.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The final selection included 59 images presented in sequence—two per page—without captions or any explanatory text.—
Vanity Fair,
Vanity Fair,
26 Mar. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The virtual program will include development support to strengthen their screenplays, as well as advice on creating a compelling project package and refining their pitching skills in preparation for their residency in Los Angeles.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But Comey has thrived, refining her own particular jolie laide aesthetic, with its offbeat palettes and silhouettes and emphasis on texture.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Adapted from Antonio Scurati’s novel, the series delves into the darker aspects of Mussolini’s character, illustrating how his toxic masculinity and exploitation of fear led to his ascent, while inviting viewers to reflect on the broader implications of his story in today’s political landscape.—
Hilary Lewis,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Crucially, the show’s histrionic extravagance had a purpose in illustrating the life-or-death stakes of youthful emotion.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state's resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Many residents from rural areas have lived on the same land for generations, watching a cycle of outside companies profit from extracting the state’s resources — from timber to coal and oil and gas — only to pollute and abandon communities afterward.—
Margie Mason,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The mission is testing the space capsule's life support system and demonstrating its ability to maneuver during rendezvous and (simulated) docking activities.—
Robert Z. Pearlman,
Space.com,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Two distinct color stories emerged—ones rooted in boldly saturated primary shades, the other in pale pastel tones typically associated with this time of year—demonstrating that the best colorful sneakers this season span the full spectrum.—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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