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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in illuminating
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clarifying
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
Tuesday against Brooklyn's collection of wings will provide a more clarifying test.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023
Hank Willis Thomas has meditated on the commercialization of Black stereotypes, in ways that are generally more clarifying than Colescott’s histrionic approach.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Biden administration officials say that the Russian invasion has been a clarifying moment for some of the bigger powers in Asia as financial sanctions and export bans have been put in place to check Russia.
—Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2022
Kyle's clarifying questions ultimately yield a few non-clarifying answers.
—Jodi Walker, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2021
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
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Try washing the tint out with a clarifying shampoo or a deep treatment mask like Matrix Biolage HydraSource Deep Treatment Hair Mask right away.
—Maureen Choi, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
So, which clarifying shampoo is best for you?
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
The late-night host became visibly emotional while clarifying his comments about Charlie Kirk's murder, which prompted his suspension.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
Amara suggests looking for clarifying shampoos that also include hydrating agents like glycerin or aloe vera.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
Reuters reports that Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google—all heavy users of the H-1B program—issued urgent advisories clarifying the $100,000 fee applies only to new visa petitions, not existing holders or renewals.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
If nothing else, the events of recent weeks have been clarifying.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Monica later dropped a remark within TNT‘s comment section, clarifying that fans asked for a dress code and that the suit idea is more of a suggestion than a rule.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Tuesday against Brooklyn's collection of wings will provide a more clarifying test.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023
Hank Willis Thomas has meditated on the commercialization of Black stereotypes, in ways that are generally more clarifying than Colescott’s histrionic approach.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Biden administration officials say that the Russian invasion has been a clarifying moment for some of the bigger powers in Asia as financial sanctions and export bans have been put in place to check Russia.
—Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2022
Kyle's clarifying questions ultimately yield a few non-clarifying answers.
—Jodi Walker, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2021
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
Adjective
This could be with a sibling, neighbor or close friend, so clarifying boundaries is key.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Try washing the tint out with a clarifying shampoo or a deep treatment mask like Matrix Biolage HydraSource Deep Treatment Hair Mask right away.
—Maureen Choi, Glamour, 25 Sep. 2025
So, which clarifying shampoo is best for you?
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Sep. 2025
The late-night host became visibly emotional while clarifying his comments about Charlie Kirk's murder, which prompted his suspension.
—Diana Leyva, Nashville Tennessean, 24 Sep. 2025
Amara suggests looking for clarifying shampoos that also include hydrating agents like glycerin or aloe vera.
—Larry Stansbury, Essence, 23 Sep. 2025
Reuters reports that Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, Apple, and Google—all heavy users of the H-1B program—issued urgent advisories clarifying the $100,000 fee applies only to new visa petitions, not existing holders or renewals.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
If nothing else, the events of recent weeks have been clarifying.
—John Cassidy, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Monica later dropped a remark within TNT‘s comment section, clarifying that fans asked for a dress code and that the suit idea is more of a suggestion than a rule.
—Jessica Bennett, VIBE.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Verb
-
Filter Out Sensitive Or Harmful Training Data Thoughtful data design, like filtering out sensitive or harmful training content, can make AI systems safer without undermining their intelligence.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The moon appeared reddish due to the total lunar eclipse, which scatters sunflight filtering through Earth’s atmosphere.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
May acted as his own attorney at a hearing that included prosecutors showing charts explaining in stark, factual ways what was on each video May is charged with distributing.—
Jeffrey Collins,
Twin Cities,
26 Sep. 2025
-
But mostly the veteran producer spent his wide-ranging conversation with Variety‘s Clayton Davis explaining the job that is often hard to define — the role of a producer — and discussing the state of the film business.—
Cynthia Littleton,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
His section doesn’t do a great deal to flesh him out further, but his strategically low vantage point, as the most normal, streetwise, and least privileged player in the game, is an illuminating one.—
Andy Andersen,
Vulture,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Angela Flournoy follows her highly honored first novel, The Turner House (2016), with an illuminating polyphonic exploration of the glorious heights and darkest lows of friendships among four women.—
Jane Ciabattari
September 16,
Literary Hub,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Fromental achieves this by pairing brushwork with hand-embroidery—and by refining its color palettes for modern sensibilities.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond refining nova recurrence models, this NSR also provides a rare opportunity to study the life cycles of stars and the dynamics of galactic material over millions of years.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Wearing her signature bespoke silk turban, Milan design doyenne Nina Yashar articulated how a performance illustrating her gallery‘s 10-year lifespan will come to life.—
Sofia Celeste,
Footwear News,
25 Sep. 2025
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The recall occurs just months after a separate tuna recall at Costco over botulism risks, illustrating the persistent food safety challenges faced by industry and regulators alike.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
There was no need for explanatory speeches.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
-
The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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When governments fail to deliver services, instead extracting value, Chayes’s book warns, radical alternatives can become far more appealing than the actual state.—
Zephyr Teachout,
The Atlantic,
22 Sep. 2025
-
At 27, Herbert seems to still be extracting upgrades.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Further demonstrating Alvarez’s point, the catcher batted ninth.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
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Related Articles The NikeSkims dancers transitioned between yoga poses and strong stances, demonstrating the flexibility of the leggings, bodysuits, bras and tanks.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.
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