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
Mark Cooper, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Mysteriously, the phone begins to ring, and Finney hears the voices of The Grabber’s previous victims, who offer him advice and clues to escape.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
Haunted by her own traumas and hidden scars, Kitts struggles to piece together the clues and separate Raevyn’s madness from an even more troubling reality.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Leaf shape, flower habit, and bloom time all provide clues to identifying your plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Here’s everything to know about the events leading up to their disappearance and what clues have emerged over the years.
—Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
That will provide critical clues as to how the situation will unfold.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
That call, from the Bates County sheriff’s department, provided the first clues that led authorities to the body of Airen Andula who was found at the bottom of a Missouri creek bed.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2026
Rogue planets offer none of these clues.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Jan. 2026
Noun
Sports Edition Coach — a spot to gather clues and discuss (and share) scores.
—Mark Cooper, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Mysteriously, the phone begins to ring, and Finney hears the voices of The Grabber’s previous victims, who offer him advice and clues to escape.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 5 Jan. 2026
Haunted by her own traumas and hidden scars, Kitts struggles to piece together the clues and separate Raevyn’s madness from an even more troubling reality.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Jan. 2026
Leaf shape, flower habit, and bloom time all provide clues to identifying your plants.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Here’s everything to know about the events leading up to their disappearance and what clues have emerged over the years.
—Makena Gera, PEOPLE, 4 Jan. 2026
That will provide critical clues as to how the situation will unfold.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 3 Jan. 2026
That call, from the Bates County sheriff’s department, provided the first clues that led authorities to the body of Airen Andula who was found at the bottom of a Missouri creek bed.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 3 Jan. 2026
Rogue planets offer none of these clues.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clues
Noun
-
There are indications the situation may grow even more dire.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
-
The extent of the two dynamics divided FOMC policymakers, with indications that the vote could have gone either way despite the six-vote victory for the cut.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Rose tells Shaw that her community is concerned about sacred remains being disturbed.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In this intimate portrait of life during the exhilarating early days of the women’s liberation movement in Scandinavia in the 1970s, Pernille Ipsen tells the stories of the seven women who raised her, who were all part of the women’s movement in Denmark.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Even the smallest food cues can be enough to draw them in.—
Katie Cloyd,
Martha Stewart,
10 Jan. 2026
-
The new cookie, called Exploremores, takes cues from Rocky Road ice cream, combining chocolate, marshmallow and toasted almond crème in a sandwich cookie.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Michelle reflected on how both of her parents instilled confidence in her from a young age which unquestionably informs her style sensibility to date.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Unfortunately, Devnan soon informs Sarah and her parents that there’s no oil on her land.—
Joe Leydon,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The governor-elect’s plans provide hints of how progressives elsewhere will try to tackle affordability problems.—
Judge Glock,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
No arrests have been announced, nor have police offered any hints for a motive for the killing.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Now, rather than recommending the above vaccines, the HHS advises making a decision in conjunction with your health care provider.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Parents with questions about vaccines or any other medical issue should talk to their child’s pediatrician, the AAP advises.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sea Tea Comedy Theater is not a living room, but that concept surely comes up sometimes in the audience suggestions that fuel the improv sketch comedy performances there.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
10 Jan. 2026
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State officials have said the suggestions of fraud are unsubstantiated.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The app also notifies passengers when United is able to hold a departing flight for travelers facing especially tight connections.—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Choke Hole issued an apology, removed the match from the show the next night as planned, and donated proceeds from the performance — over $3,500 — to the organization NYC ICE Watch, which notifies the community of ICE activity.—
Elyssa Goodman,
Them.,
23 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clues.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clues. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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