CLOUDS Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

clouds 1 of 2

noun

plural of cloud

as in shadows

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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clouds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cloud

as in obscures

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in confuses

to make (something) unclear to the understanding cloud the issue with obscure statistics

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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 clouds

Noun

Scientists have found vibrant microbial communities in low-hanging clouds, including bacteria that can detoxify air pollution. — Devika Rao, TheWeek, 9 Sep. 2026 Aside from Venus' blisteringly hot temperature, which could melt lead, incredible surface pressure, violent high-speed winds, and clouds of sulfuric acid, one of the key differences between Earth and Venus can be seen from afar. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026 Expect the humidity to stay in check, with just a few clouds this afternoon. — Bill Kelly, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 Most of these clouds arrive on Wednesday, with a few lingering clouds Thursday as temperatures peak. — Sean MacAday, Sacbee.com, 8 Sep. 2026 His memories of his early years in Mid-City are refracted through the fog of weed clouds and the fish-eye lens of a VX1000 video camera. — Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 One image shows Holmes, 47, sunbathing in a white bikini against a picturesque backdrop of clouds and mountains. — Jennifer Hassan, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026 Start with this quilt set that’s lightweight but comfy for fall, then snag these ever-popular bed pillows with plush filling that shoppers compare to fluffy clouds. — Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 Sep. 2026 Charged drops, the team notes in the paper, form naturally in clouds, thunderstorms, ocean waves, fountains, and waterfalls, as well as in industrial processes like electrostatic spraying and inkjet printing. — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Verb

There’s a running joke about the MCU having the most magical water that clouds everything. — Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 The United States’ relationship with its partners in the region also clouds its messaging and invites escalation. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 Much of the debris that clouds the water in this technique is leftover detergent and fabric softener that build up in fabric fibers over time, according to the article. — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 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 Mamdani has done the same, but Sherman’s own bias against Muslims clouds his judgment. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 When Kendi began experiencing slight cloudiness in her right eye, veterinarians identified the issue head-on — cataracts, a condition that clouds the eye's lens and can lead to blindness if left untreated. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Ambiguity clouds the conversation and risks leaving your protégé more confused than enlightened. — Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Soap scum clouds the shower glass. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for clouds

Noun

Behind a thick column, lurking in the shadows, a kind looking man with an Irish brogue quietly summoned me.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
The consequence is that, even if these models successfully preserve literary materials that might otherwise be lost to time or foundering interest, the source will always remain in the shadows.

— Francesca Mancino, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shadows

Verb

OpenAI’s use of a new technique that obscures AI agents’ chain of thought is alarming the research community.

— Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 2 Sep. 2026
Like a fog that obscures the landscape but cannot alter it, the material senses appear to hide from us our true, spiritual identity.

— The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of obscures

Noun

The scientists also want to gain a more detailed understanding of the three-dimensional structure of the decagon's clouds, hazes, winds and temperatures.

— Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Scientists believe seasonal winter clouds and hazes in the region may be limiting how atmospheric dust scatters sunlight there.

— Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026

Definition of hazes

Verb

As dark occurrences begin to shatter the quiet of their isolated home, the boy is forced to navigate a harrowing psychological nightmare where the line between real-world madness and supernatural terror blurs.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026
This careful calibration of fit blurs the distinction between the gallery and the vitrine.

— Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of blurs

Verb

Saturn is evident for much of the night, appearing low in the eastern sky as the sky darkens and reaching its highest point in the southern sky soon after midnight.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2026
The planet becomes easier to identify as the sky darkens, making the best time for viewing during the late-night and early-morning hours.

— Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of darkens

Verb

Instead, Cubans turn to the internet, reading abroad what their government obfuscates or denies at home.

— Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
His bad-boy swagger externally obfuscates his heart of gold, but his goodness and morality are apparent.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026

Definition of obfuscates

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cloud nine

clouds

cloudy

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Style

“Clouds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clouds. Accessed 14 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of clouds

noun

verb

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