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clear

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verb

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as in to empty
to remove the contents of cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes

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as in to open
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops

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as in to smooth
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions plows promptly cleared the roads of snow

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as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile

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as in to pay
to give what is owed for finally cleared the last debt

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clear

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adverb

as in through

Related Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clear are limpid, translucent, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When could limpid be used to replace clear?

Although the words limpid and clear have much in common, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When can translucent be used instead of clear?

The synonyms translucent and clear are sometimes interchangeable, but translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would transparent be a good substitute for clear?

While the synonyms transparent and clear are close in meaning, transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clear
Adjective
By the time Journalism and jockey Umberto Rispoli began passing other horses and taking aim at Fierceness with the rally that had won him the Santa Anita Derby, Preakness and Haskell Stakes, the leader had spurted clear by 2-1/2 lengths turning into the homestretch. Kevin Modesti, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 Filtering out the yeast to make the beer clear also strips the beer of a lot of its flavor, so most people seem to prefer the original hazy version. Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Los Angeles Master Chorale uttered nonverbal syllables, yet the message was somehow clear. Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025 These high-quality earbuds feature voice isolation, clear sound quality, and more. Katrina Cossey, Parents, 6 Oct. 2025
Adverb
While many fans are absolutely loving the new project — which has already cleared 3 million traditional sales in just a few days — others have criticized Showgirl for its simplistic, playful lyricism on certain tracks. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 7 Oct. 2025 All that new housing, those high-speed train lines, the new terminals in all major cities, the freeways, and the power lines were cleared by government decree using China’s version of eminent domain. Peter Leyden, Big Think, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear
Adjective
  • The Seahawks put the Bucs in obvious situations, then offered little resistance.
    Michael-Shawn Dugar, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • One obvious strategy to try to tackle the staffing problems is to close more prisons, and this year’s state budget authorized Governor Hochul to close up to three more.
    Jennifer Gonnerman, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Tensions are brewing between Grapevine officials and the Grapevine-Colleyville school district over possible campus closures and whether the district is being transparent about its financial picture.
    Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2025
  • My mission since then has been to inform, engage and empower voters to bring more accountable, transparent, responsive, efficient and effective government.
    Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • People still are prohibited from carrying guns — openly or concealed — in certain areas, including schools and university campuses; professional athletic events not related to firearms; hospitals; police stations; courts and polling places.
    Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2025
  • McGregor recognizes that the work of translating between Western science and TEK is critical in certain contexts and applications, while there has also been significant cooption and misinterpretation.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The job only got heavier on this hot and sunny Sunday, when the home team was booed off the field at halftime by the sections of MetLife that weren’t filled with Cowboys fans.
    Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 6 Oct. 2025
  • Expect a high of 85 degrees, mostly sunny and very warm.
    Amy Huschka, Freep.com, 6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That means kimchi's beneficial bacteria could potentially offset the hypertensive effects of sodium, although the research is not conclusive.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2025
  • The condition has been studied for years with no real conclusive findings about what can be done to treat it.
    Audrey Noble, Vogue, 8 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Elanco's gleaming headquarters stands four stories tall, with floor-to-ceiling blue windows on every side and several balconies that overlook the 75-acre campus and provide an unobstructed view of the downtown skyline.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 Oct. 2025
  • Personal living space on the upper levels consists of four bedrooms and three baths, topped off with a 562-square-foot rooftop deck offering unobstructed views of the city and annual events like Fleet Week and the Fourth of July fireworks.
    Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Legendary Italian auteur Marco Bellocchio (The Traitor, Kidnapped) directed and co-wrote the six-episode series, which tells the story of the downfall and imprisonment of popular TV host Enzo Tortora, an innocent man.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 11 Oct. 2025
  • Ryan Clark, Pat McAfee and Scott Van Pelt gave strong reactions to the evidence that attempted to prove Kyren Lacy innocent of allegedly causing a fatal wreck last year.
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • The best shining example of something that was influenced by us is the British version of The Office.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Attendees rode in support of and alongside community member Eva Zamora, who is a shining example of how to live your best life with Parkinson’s disease and takes cycle classes at EōS regularly, a news release stated.
    News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 12 Oct. 2025.

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