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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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
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
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Feb. 2026
Republicans framed the bathroom and driver’s license bill as an addendum clarifying the intent of a separate 2023 bill barring trans women from accessing female-only spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
That same language is now treated as politically dangerous rather than morally clarifying.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
The Minnesota Department of Corrections pushed back, clarifying for the public that the state prison system works with ICE.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
There’s something clarifying about ending things above the city that stressed you out in the first place.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The first part of the clarifying tweet also still is not entirely accurate.
—Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
This could be clarifying for you both.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Start by clarifying the need, then apply the effort.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 8 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
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
Verb
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
Republicans framed the bathroom and driver’s license bill as an addendum clarifying the intent of a separate 2023 bill barring trans women from accessing female-only spaces.
—Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 13 Feb. 2026
That same language is now treated as politically dangerous rather than morally clarifying.
—Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026
The Minnesota Department of Corrections pushed back, clarifying for the public that the state prison system works with ICE.
—Conor Wight, CBS News, 13 Feb. 2026
There’s something clarifying about ending things above the city that stressed you out in the first place.
—Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 11 Feb. 2026
The first part of the clarifying tweet also still is not entirely accurate.
—Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 11 Feb. 2026
This could be clarifying for you both.
—Eric Thomas, Sun Sentinel, 8 Feb. 2026
Start by clarifying the need, then apply the effort.
—Tribune Content Agency, Baltimore Sun, 8 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
During a 45-minute interview with the Orlando Sentinel, the Gators’ master motivator and raconteur engaged in an illuminating and riveting conversation.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Gates has assembled a stimulating, illuminating, maddening, saddening, but often inspiring, story of their relations with the world and one another.—
Robert Lloyd,
Twin Cities,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Phelan describes constant dirt filtering in — weeds, grass and bugs.—
Dave Lieber,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Snag a four-person outdoor dining set that looks straight out of Grandma’s backyard, or shop these light-filtering curtains from Kelly Clarkson Home that add antique charm to living spaces.—
Shea Simmons,
Southern Living,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
And Page [McConnell]is sitting backstage with him in one of the dressing rooms explaining that.—
Alison Weinflash,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Beyond Herrington, current Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has prioritized teaching and explaining Bezos’s principles internally, even launching video explanations of each one to help employees interpret them.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Some have migrated to TikTok for explanatory videos about raw denim and rare Japanese denim brands by content creators like Alejandro Jomar and Drew Joiner.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Shaffer succeeds in this regard, but the wordy play grows cumbersome in its final explanatory stages.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
With field tests complete, NEO is now refining its battery management system (BMS) software and optimizing pack materials to enhance thermal performance and overall efficiency.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Instead, the automaker has focused on refining what was already a solid foundation.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
From tiny proto‑dinosaurs like Marasuchus to giants like Plateosaurus and Mamenchisaurus, 'The Dinosaurs' runs the gamut, illustrating how dinosaurs evolved across millennia in response to a volatile world.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
11 Feb. 2026
-
There are times, though, when the filmmaker makes his machinations too obvious, as with the too-cute cross-cutting illustrating how the characters are all caught in the same web.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Microbes could be the future space miners, helping humans survive on long-term missions by extracting mineral resources from extraterrestrial rocks.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Opening up new mining operations would be in keeping with the founding directive of the Forest Service, which mandates the balance of protecting resources and extracting them.—
Lauren Steele,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Plenty of competitors have popped up in recent years, but the Velazquezes are hoping to stand out by demonstrating the value of their 16 years of experience.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Emily Ratajkowski is pausing her regular lingerie programming for a barely-there athleisure interlude—and demonstrating how loungewear can be just as sexy.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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