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
The phenomena were observed earlier this month thanks to monsoon moisture coming from the south and bringing midlevel clouds. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 Analysts say the market will pay particular attention to Alphabet’s cloud business growth, returns on its AI investments and its capital expenditure plans for next year. — CNBC, 20 July 2026
Verb
The recent explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket on its launch pad in Florida also clouds ULA’s return-to-flight plans for Vulcan. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026 Global foreign investment rose last year, the UN said Tuesday, but warned that this year’s outlook is clouded by trade policy uncertainty and geopolitical tensions. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 7 July 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
  • The Dodgers had opened Pandora’s box, and out would fly a lockout, a pall of smoke over their games, and a plague of locusts.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
  • But now, the idyllic Mississippi island is overcast with an unsettling pall after the death of 18-year-old Nolan Wells.
    — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 18 July 2026
Definition of pall
Verb
  • Gros Morne National Park combines relatively dark skies with the deepest eclipse in eastern North America, with nearly half of the sun obscured at maximum.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 19 July 2026
  • Severely nearsighted, Isul wore eyeglasses with thick plastic lenses, which obscured her lovely, small eyes.
    — Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Definition of obscure
Verb
  • The Blazers say a handshake agreement with Mayor Keith Wilson, the city and the county was made in March, and are confused why there has been a shift.
    — Jason Quick, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • The figure who experiences every prompt to begin the process as a threat rather than a relief has confused the cause with the self.
    — Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026
Definition of confuse
Noun
  • The theater has wind, water, fog, scent, snow, lightning, and vibration effects to capture the feel of being inside the movie.
    — Zuri Primos July 18, Kansas City Star, 18 July 2026
  • Nass suggests the Gray Lady, a citrusy gin concoction that borrows the nickname for Nantucket’s fog.
    — Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 July 2026
Definition of fog
Verb
  • Boundaries of good and evil are blurred even further with the introduction of Batman’s most iconic villain, The Joker, played by Heath Ledger, who died before the film was released.
    — Lea Tran, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
  • This is the time of year when lines can get blurred, with competition often internal during summer league.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 12 July 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
  • With 67% of employees engaging in shadow AI usage at work, this unapproved use of chatbots and other AI agents is potentially exposing companies’ sensitive data.
    — Ryan Grant, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • This dominance is physically and mentally exhausting for opponents, who are left chasing shadows as Spain’s technicians pass around them with precision.
    — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Definition of shadow
Verb
  • In these areas, petunias won’t grow as well when temperatures fall to 40°F; the plants will darken, turn limp and mushy, and die away with the first hard frost.
    — Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 14 July 2026
  • Sun exposure can darken new scars permanently and slow their healing, so Min recommended keeping them covered as much as possible.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 July 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 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on cloud

Nglish: Translation of cloud for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cloud

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