as in illuminating
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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
Example Sentences
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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
Melody Wilding, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
When user requests are ambiguous, rather than simply assuming one specific interpretation, systems now often ask a clarifying question to reduce the risk of creating frustration or making mistakes.
—Frédéric Dalsace, Harvard Business Review, 2 Mar. 2026
That reality became even more consequential following the Supreme Court’s recent decision clarifying executive authority on tariffs.
—Jeffrey Ball, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
The Nobel Prize had cast a clarifying light backward.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Board member Kevin Lynch was the lone dissenter, and there was no board discussion on the topic besides clarifying questions on the motion.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
Start by clarifying a deliverable and confirming who needs it, because clear expectations reduce busywork and help everyone focus.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
While the moody Moon blurs with powerful Pluto in your 10th House of Career, clarifying your role and long-term direction may be difficult.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 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
Buy time by clarifying When you're caught off guard, asking a question in return can be a powerful move.
—Melody Wilding, CNBC, 3 Mar. 2026
When user requests are ambiguous, rather than simply assuming one specific interpretation, systems now often ask a clarifying question to reduce the risk of creating frustration or making mistakes.
—Frédéric Dalsace, Harvard Business Review, 2 Mar. 2026
That reality became even more consequential following the Supreme Court’s recent decision clarifying executive authority on tariffs.
—Jeffrey Ball, Oc Register, 2 Mar. 2026
The Nobel Prize had cast a clarifying light backward.
—Natalia Sánchez Loayza, Scientific American, 26 Feb. 2026
The airport released a statement Thursday clarifying its post was intended as a joke.
—ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
Board member Kevin Lynch was the lone dissenter, and there was no board discussion on the topic besides clarifying questions on the motion.
—Lina Ruiz, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2026
Start by clarifying a deliverable and confirming who needs it, because clear expectations reduce busywork and help everyone focus.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 Feb. 2026
While the moody Moon blurs with powerful Pluto in your 10th House of Career, clarifying your role and long-term direction may be difficult.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
The process of understanding how the human immune system responds to such a treatment will certainly be illuminating, says Foxman.—
Veronique Greenwood,
Time,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, check out more illuminating tinted moisturizers, below.—
Alyssa Morin,
InStyle,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The tour uses Signify Group’s Threat Matrix service, which is designed to help protect players on social media by detecting and filtering out abusive messages through a combination of AI and human analysts.—
James Hansen,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
This symbiotic pairing allowed the plants to efficiently absorb essential nutrients while simultaneously filtering out toxic heavy metals.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Gassert disagreed with Dominguez’s decision to kick Oliveros out of the house, explaining that an agent’s morality shouldn’t be conditional.—
Tyler Carmona,
Miami Herald,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Now, the Connecticut state legislature is moving to control the curriculum of all schools in the state without explaining why politicians know better than parents how to educate their children.—
Nicholas Tampio,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Consciousness becomes analogous to a number, a structure, or a pattern — an abstract noun — and its defining feature, the first-person feeling, slips through our explanatory cracks.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Longhorns insider David Eckert won in the explanatory category for a story about how climate change affects early-season football games.—
Sports Editor,
Austin American Statesman,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The team plans to continue refining the design and making the system smaller and more efficient.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Madeline Davis went to work on refining the idea, and the couple was ready to launch at the beginning of 2020.—
Debra Skodack,
Kansas City Star,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
States passed 90 policies bolstering high school career and technical education in 2024, illustrating its increasing political support.—
Miranda Dunlap,
jsonline.com,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Other nights, third-year forward Brandon Miller continues illustrating why Charlotte drafted him second in 2024.—
James Jackson,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
No need to spend another six months extracting and testing cells.—
Ryan Brennan
March 6,
Kansas City Star,
6 Mar. 2026
-
The operation in KwaZulu-Natal province is focused on extracting zircon, rutile, ilmenite, and titanium oxide — critical ingredients in products such as paint, sunscreen, and smartphones.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The system has progressed through multiple stages of technical evaluation and validation, demonstrating its potential for operational use in counter-UAV missions.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Results from a handful of studies were middling — and then the largest study demonstrating its efficacy was retracted in January.—
O. Rose Broderick,
STAT,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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