as in indications
a slight or indirect pointing to something (as a solution or explanation)
vainly searched for a clue to the answer
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Recent Examples of clues
Hua Hsu, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
In the weeks before Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the New York staging of his The Phantom of the Opera reboot Masquerade last year, cryptic messages and clues began popping up, not least being the appearance of the masked singer outside the Tony Awards ceremony.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
The Scooby Doo quest, the heart of the night, comes complete with a 14-page manual full of character bios, clues and missions.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Following the brutal death of two local teenagers, all clues point to Norway’s deepest fjord, where a gigantic mythical monster is hiding.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Assessing right intent is hard, but a government’s conduct and rhetoric can offer clues.
—Valerie Morkevicius, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
There are other clues that much of the spread of measles in the US is going unreported, too.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Northrop Grumman’s shares F/A-XX design clues The F/A-XX program calls for a sixth-generation fighter to succeed the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C Lightning II.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
The only clues that date his wanderings arrive in the shape of a mid-century refrigerator, or a certain hairstyle, or a peeling political bumper sticker.
—Hua Hsu, The Atlantic, 28 Apr. 2026
In the weeks before Andrew Lloyd Webber announced the New York staging of his The Phantom of the Opera reboot Masquerade last year, cryptic messages and clues began popping up, not least being the appearance of the masked singer outside the Tony Awards ceremony.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2026
The Scooby Doo quest, the heart of the night, comes complete with a 14-page manual full of character bios, clues and missions.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Following the brutal death of two local teenagers, all clues point to Norway’s deepest fjord, where a gigantic mythical monster is hiding.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Assessing right intent is hard, but a government’s conduct and rhetoric can offer clues.
—Valerie Morkevicius, The Conversation, 24 Apr. 2026
There are other clues that much of the spread of measles in the US is going unreported, too.
—Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
Northrop Grumman’s shares F/A-XX design clues The F/A-XX program calls for a sixth-generation fighter to succeed the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and complement the F-35C Lightning II.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clues
Noun
-
Advances in soil science were key to the latest search after new soil testing returned some indications of human remains, Parkinson said.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
-
That passage may be aimed at indications that politicians may rely on another expansive revenue projection, ala 2022, to postpone the day of reckoning.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
That tells you everything about the disconnect people are feeling.—
Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
-
District 8 needs a leader who works with the community, tells the truth and delivers real results, not political deals or insider arrangements.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The audience already knows the cues.—
Katrine Wallace,
STAT,
8 May 2026
-
The company has taken cues from DeepSeek's approach of delivering high-performing models under financial and technological constraints, according to cofounder and chief scientist Lin Dahua.—
Elaine Yu,
CNBC,
6 May 2026
Verb
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As a major destination for outdoor parties ranging from pop-up shops for local vendors to off-season wedding celebrations, the team informs guests of any events on the agenda before booking, so each stay is suitable to visitor preferences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
-
Ahead, Quintrell walks IndieWire through how the series tweaks, alters, and informs new perspective for everyone from Charlotte Lucas to Caroline Bingley and, of course, Mary Bennet herself.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
This desire to find connection in loss hints that death can often be more tangible to process than estrangement.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
After downplaying the prospect of a new album in recent interviews, Grande began posting hints to the contrary in March, like a flower emoji in her Instagram bio.—
Brian Hiatt,
Rolling Stone,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kara Alaimo is a professor of communication at Fairleigh Dickinson University and advises parents, students and teachers on how to manage screen time.—
Kara Alaimo,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
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The white mailbox out front advises that deliveries should go to the house next door.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
GitHub Copilot subscribers will still be able to use simple AI suggestions like code completion and Next Edit without consuming AI credits.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 Apr. 2026
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For years the owner, now 66, has watched tape, done his own player evaluations and sent observations and suggestions to DeCosta, mostly about players who might be available in later rounds — without exerting any actual decision-making power.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Cindy Kobold, an Arizona Public Service meteorologist, said the technology notifies them about 45 minutes faster on average than the first 911 call.—
Dorany Pineda,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
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Meta already notifies parents when their teens discuss self-harm or suicide on Instagram.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clues. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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