Definition of comprehendnext

Synonym Chooser

How is the word comprehend distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and understand are common synonyms of comprehend. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of comprehend?

While the synonyms appreciate and comprehend are close in meaning, appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

How are the words understand and comprehend related?

Both understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

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 comprehend At his 2019 sentencing, Shelley Gilbert insisted her son was mentally ill and unable to fully comprehend his actions, according to The New York Times. Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026 At the starting line, Barker was trying to comprehend it all. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 27 May 2026 Just a few years ago the meaning lay hidden behind a wall of medical jargon that only doctors could comprehend. Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 15 May 2026 That left the participants struggling to comprehend either one. Jon Hamilton, NPR, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for comprehend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehend
Verb
  • It is being built here, in MDC’s classrooms by an institution that understood early on that the city’s greatest competitive advantage was always the people already living in it.
    Miami Dade College, Miami Herald, 2 June 2026
  • This suggests that buyers are increasingly narrowing down their talent searches to specialists that understand the unique peculiarities and context windows that come attached to different coding tools, with Anthropic’s Claude being the most popular.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • Videos of climbers waiting in long queues in an area known as the death zone – where the air is too thin to breathe unaided for long – on their way to the summit have once again made headlines, alongside record-breaking ascents from both Nepali and foreign climbers.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • The way Daniel and Jackie get to know each other feels more authentic than genuine, navigating playful bonding moments as well as their own personal hang-ups.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 June 2026
Verb
  • The Suncoast encompasses about 150 miles along the Gulf of Mexico, and this stretch of shore offers unmatched terrain, with crystal waters as aqua blue and bright as a chlorinated pool, sand as soft as powdered sugar, and almost constant sunshine.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 6 June 2026
  • The show's breadth — encompassing immense tragedy as well as great optimism — and the depth of the actors' performances has been bringing Broadway audiences to their feet, often mid-act.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • Armed with an adventure kit, participants are summoned to a secret location where they’re tasked with deciphering cryptic codes, uncovering hidden symbols, navigating shifting alliances and outwit enemies and operatives stationed around the campus.
    Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 May 2026
  • Immigration experts who were trying to decipher the news said the memo was more nuanced, leading to confusion over what the change actually entailed.
    Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
Verb
  • The governor has also activated Phase 3 of Colorado's Drought Response Plan, which allows the state to take additional emergency response actions, including potential emergency funding for unmet response needs.
    Christa Swanson, CBS News, 8 June 2026
  • Brands including Cult Gaia, Alo, Same Swim, and La DoubleJ are opening stores in either the South of France or along the Italian coastline ahead of the 2026 season, in a bid to capture the flocks of tourists who visit these hotspots and are keen to splurge without breaking the bank.
    Madeleine Schulz, Vogue, 8 June 2026
Verb
  • In these spaces, ticks often wait on the tips of grass blades, plant stems, and tree branches with their front legs ready to grasp onto any host that happens to brush by or walk under overhanging foliage.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
  • It is built with tools for mapping, navigation, self-charging and VLM grasping demos.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Verb
  • The wall drawings also contain erasure marks, vestiges of the artist’s false starts and corrections.
    Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 2 June 2026
  • Substituting regular flour for options that contain more protein when baking, such as oat, almond, chickpea, or whole wheat flour.
    Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 2 June 2026
Verb
  • In December, Israel became the first country to formally recognize Somaliland, and the UAE maintains an expansive commercial and military presence in the port city of Berbera.
    Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 5 June 2026
  • Our partners recognize that local journalism and an informed citizenry are foundational for our society.
    Steve Coffman June 4, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comprehend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehend. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.

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