1
as in understanding
to have a clear idea of
the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knowing
to have a practical understanding of
it took me a while to comprehend algebra
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in including
to have as part of a whole
our notion of morality should comprehend much more than proper sexual behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of comprehending
Hard sci-fi, meanwhile, leans into the fact that life evolving on other planets, under different conditions, and across different stretches of time will almost certainly take on forms so different from ours that comprehending them would be like imagining a new color.
—
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
And then just comprehending the infrastructure required, again, just for the eggs, let alone all the other things required.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 230,000 Coloradans have difficulty comprehending and communicating in English.
—Micki Olson, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
The way humanity finally got to the level of ChatGPT was not by comprehending intelligence well enough to craft an intelligent mind.
—Nate Soares, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Understanding what the Padres’ bullpen is absorbing begins with comprehending just how good it’s been.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
And then just comprehending the infrastructure required, again, just for the eggs, let alone all the other things required.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 230,000 Coloradans have difficulty comprehending and communicating in English.
—Micki Olson, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
The way humanity finally got to the level of ChatGPT was not by comprehending intelligence well enough to craft an intelligent mind.
—Nate Soares, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Understanding what the Padres’ bullpen is absorbing begins with comprehending just how good it’s been.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehending
Verb
-
Wanting to move forward is natural, but part of being in a relationship with a parent is understanding that children set the timeline, not the adults’ feelings.—
Jann Blackstone,
Boston Herald,
31 May 2026
-
The original Luddites are worth understanding correctly before invoking them.—
Alexander Puutio,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Alsing noted that technical capabilities can be learned, emphasizing that a skill that compounds over a career is being comfortable with not knowing and figuring it out anyway.—
Vicki M. Young,
Footwear News,
3 June 2026
-
Then there’s the psychological barrier of knowing your meals will be repetitive, or worse, if certain experiments prove practical, that your last … uh… output … could become your next input.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
The rescue caps off the busiest season ever on Everest with more than 1,000 climbers summiting the mountain’s south side, including a record 274 in a single day on May 20.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
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NellaSpec also offers a reusable option for clinical settings that is now in hospitals including the Cleveland Clinic, UC Systems, Kaiser, and Columbia, and the cost is part of the exam, according to the company.—
Wendy Naugle,
USA Today,
5 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
-
Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Julian was killed on Saturday, May 30, after a crash involving a motorcycle and another vehicle near Signal Butte Road and State Route 24, according to the Mesa Police Department, as reported by NBC affiliate 12News.—
Angelique Brenes,
PEOPLE,
3 June 2026
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One person is dead, and two others were taken to the hospital after a crash involving multiple vehicles in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, Tuesday afternoon, police said.—
Laura Fay,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Verb
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Authorities say Long intended to carry out similar attacks in Florida, but his parents had called police after recognizing their son in images from security video posted online.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
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This shift—from recognizing patterns to evaluating intent before execution—aligns with the zero trust model.—
Ken Ammon,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Their answers, encompassing both Washington’s most famous sites and humble homegrown architectural forms, paint a portrait of America in three dimensions.—
Time,
Time,
2 June 2026
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Launching Monday, the campaign will run across Anua’s digital and social platforms as part of a multiyear agreement encompassing future global campaigns and product launches.—
Ryma Chikhoune,
Footwear News,
1 June 2026
Verb
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Another project, Grasp-MPC, focused on robotic grasping in cluttered environments.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
28 May 2026
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Lovebugs are vegetarians who feed on pollen and nectar and lack the speed, the jaws and grasping legs to catch and slaughter a mosquito.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comprehending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehending. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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