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cloud 1 of 2

noun

ˈklau̇d How to pronounce cloud (audio)
Definition of cloudnext
as in pall
an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom all day we were under a cloud until we heard the good news

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cloud

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to obscure
to make dark, dim, or indistinct the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to confuse
to make (something) unclear to the understanding cloud the issue with obscure statistics

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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 cloud
Noun
No, thankfully, the cloud operates on a slightly more ethereal system. — Corbin Bolies, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026 Nadella said Microsoft remains focused on broad access to models offered through its Azure cloud-computing business, enterprise control of models, and the development of its own first-party models. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 14 Sep. 2026
Verb
Swelling and spinal shock can cloud the earliest neurological picture, and physicians repeat examinations over time for good reason, as many people once given a grave prognosis go on to recover. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 According to Sierra, Mica’s sister, Mica’s relationship with Miller was clouded by her own physical insecurities. — Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cloud
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cloud
  1. pall
  2. obscure
  3. confuse
  4. fog
  5. blur
  6. becloud
  7. shadow
  8. darken
Noun
  • Whatever its stated purpose, the assertion seemed designed to cast a pall on the elections four months hence.
    — James Robenalt, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
  • Slower growth could cast a pall on the November midterm elections.
    — David J. Lynch, Washington Post, 25 July 2026
Definition of pall
Verb
  • Orwell was exploring the roles that euphemism, tangled syntax, and dying metaphors can play in obscuring the true intentions of a totalitarian state.
    — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Last week, OpenAI began rolling out its latest model, Astra, which performs better but obscures more of its internal processes.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • The Polo Room Not to be confused with Ralph Lauren’s Polo Bar, the Polo Room takes its name from the actual sport—international polo star Nacho Figueras is a co-owner, and his Argentine heritage runs throughout the restaurant.
    — Lilah Ramzi, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2026
  • There’s no complicated touchscreen to confuse older family members or young kids, either.
    — Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of confuse
Noun
  • Passive nets retain practical advantage Passive fog nets have operated in the same desert for years without using electricity.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The Great Smoky Mountains that trail up the border between Tennessee and North Carolina earned their name from the natural, gauzy fog that often drapes across the region.
    — Megan Wahn, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of fog
Verb
  • As tensions rise and boundaries begin to blur, their grandmother’s frail presence takes on an increasingly disturbing quality, turning a once-idyllic summer into a haunting passage into adulthood.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Greene, who loves to blur the boundaries between fiction and nonfiction, uses this premise as a way to tenderly explore these people’s lives.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of blur
Verb
  • But instead of sounding the alarm, defendants went out of their way to becloud the emerging scientific consensus.
    — Edward Fitzpatrick, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Aug. 2019
  • His flacks and surrogates hand out scraps of information grudgingly, infrequently, and beclouded by fragrant eructations of doublespeak.
    — Charles Seife, Slate Magazine, 1 Mar. 2017
Definition of becloud
Noun
  • Sandusky’s trial produced shocking testimony from other victims The shadow of Penn State’s influence in this borough in the center of the commonwealth continues to hang over the case.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Not only does this monitor support HDR10, but also Black Equalizer, which brings out the deep shadows for more immersive contrast.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of shadow
Verb
  • Some woods are very photosensitive, like cherry and walnut, but cherry darkens with sun exposure while walnut fades.
    — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 13 Sep. 2026
  • China’s growth target is already its lowest since 1991, and the economic picture is darkened further by a real estate downturn that is straining local government finances and undercutting spending capacity, Goldman Sachs said in a note to clients.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of darken

Phrases Containing cloud

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clotting
cloud
cloudburst
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Cite this Entry

“Cloud.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cloud. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cloud

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cloud

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