clue 1 of 3

noun

ˈklü How to pronounce clue (audio)
Definition of cluenext
as in indication
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation) vainly searched for a clue to the answer

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clue

2 of 3

verb (1)

as in to tell

Related Words

clue (in)

3 of 3

verb (2)

as in to inform
to give information to would you clue him in on the plan?

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 clue
Noun
That title gives a first clue towards how misbegotten and compromised this new Tom and Jerry joint is. — Caspar Salmon, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026 The painting’s joyful casualness belies its subject matter, clues to which can be found in the coyote on one of the men’s shirts and in the work’s title, Uncle’s Crossing (2022). — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Verb
But instead of aspiring to be their white-collar parents, they’re clued into the growing industry of influencers. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 11 May 2026 The second comes later, after Ashley, feeling the toll of the emotional manipulation, clues him into her new scheme, which occurred to her earlier that day. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for clue
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clue
  1. indication
  2. tell
  3. hint
  4. inform
  5. cue
  6. advise
  7. suggestion
  8. notify
Noun
  • The security company counted 5,400 sites beaconing to it, an indication of the reach and scope of that campaign.
    — Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • There is plenty of time to evaluate the team’s approach over the offseason, as there’s no indication Ohtani won’t be used as a two-way player next year.
    — Katie Woo, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of indication
Verb
  • Home plate umpire Doug Eddings called time to tell Hancel Rincon to fix his hat.
    — Brendan Kuty, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Several parents previously told the Democrat-Gazette and other local media that the couple then disappeared and stopped responding to emails or phone calls.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of tell
Noun
  • But the Italianate fountains at the entrance is your first hint that a resort wonderland awaits.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
  • While there is no water vapor, JWST has picked up hints of solid particles of crystalline water-ice.
    — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of hint
Verb
  • The pilots did not inform air traffic controllers of any problems with the plane prior to landing, air traffic control audio indicated.
    — Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Smart travelers stay informed by reading the fine print and understanding travel requirements for their destination.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of inform
Noun
  • Right on cue, the Labor Day sellout crowd of 42,368 booed when Craig Counsell’s name was announced during pregame introductions and the headshot of the Chicago Cubs manager appeared on American Family Field’s gigantic video board.
    — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Louis Vuitton and its trunks have always been a key part of the brand identity, so the fact that the watch itself took cues from travel should come as no surprise.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of cue
Verb
  • Earlier this summer, a panel that advises the Food and Drug Administration recommended the government reclassify half a dozen of these peptides.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The airport advises travelers to check with their airline for schedule changes.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of advise
Noun
  • While the suggestion may be good for domestic politics in the US, the crude is better suited for the specialized refineries of the US Gulf Coast.
    — Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Other suggestions include Condoleezza Rice, the president of Jordan Brand and an NFL exec.
    — Annie Costabile, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of suggestion
Verb
  • Ellifson said the cameras have led to a faster police response to potential critical emergencies and have been used to quickly notify law enforcement about unauthorized individuals entering school property.
    — Alec Johnson, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026
  • The company said DeepSeek — which rose into prominence last year due to its capabilities and cheap costs — also used tactics similar to Moonshot, transferring exchanges to Claude without notifying DeepSeek customers.
    — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of notify

Phrases Containing clue

Browse Nearby Words

clucks
clue
clued
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clue.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clue. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of quorum

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
funny guinea pig in glasses reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Vol 2 Words to the wise
See All