1
as in granting
to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly
the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consulting
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
my parents are going to confer with a financial adviser about saving for their retirement
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Recent Examples of conferring
After conferring, Robinson and the other justices returned the case to the lower court for further proceedings.
—
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
The pair are chaos agents who, in conferring the benefit of sudden wealth, lure the recipients into corruption.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
By 1911 all Australian states except Tasmania had enacted legislation conferring broad powers over First Peoples to a Protection Board or Chief Protector.
—Roland Martin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
In my view, by conferring this title on Summers, Harvard is signaling that powerful men can outlast gross misconduct with their honorifics intact.
—Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
At City Hall, before taking council members’ public comments, the committee went into executive session, conferring privately while a large crowd waited for members to address the billion-dollar question in open session.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The neighborhood/area Mount Etna’s dark mass looms over Zash and the surrounding area, conferring special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, and more exotic cacti and banana trees vie for space.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Sitting with Cucinelli is like conferring with a living history book.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Later, after conferring with the official, Izzo had clarification on Davis’ transgression.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2026
The pair are chaos agents who, in conferring the benefit of sudden wealth, lure the recipients into corruption.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
By 1911 all Australian states except Tasmania had enacted legislation conferring broad powers over First Peoples to a Protection Board or Chief Protector.
—Roland Martin, Encyclopedia Britannica, 19 Mar. 2026
In my view, by conferring this title on Summers, Harvard is signaling that powerful men can outlast gross misconduct with their honorifics intact.
—Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
At City Hall, before taking council members’ public comments, the committee went into executive session, conferring privately while a large crowd waited for members to address the billion-dollar question in open session.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The neighborhood/area Mount Etna’s dark mass looms over Zash and the surrounding area, conferring special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, and more exotic cacti and banana trees vie for space.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Sitting with Cucinelli is like conferring with a living history book.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Later, after conferring with the official, Izzo had clarification on Davis’ transgression.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conferring
Verb
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Thanks to the unbelievably reckless fiscal policies of Maryland Democrats, residents are now supposed to celebrate the governor and the General Assembly for generously granting us a paltry break on the completely misguided EmPOWER Maryland surcharge.—
Torrey Snow,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2026
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Homeowners opposed to a 6,100-acre solar farm near Manhattan scored a legal win Wednesday with an order granting them ability to present evidence and cross-examine the developer, pushing back a Thursday vote on the project.—
Alicia Fabbre,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Barbara Deer was a speech language pathologist for nearly two decades at Chicago Public Schools, CEO of the consulting company Metamorphosis Health and headed the nonprofit Juneteenth Illinois.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2026
-
When the war broke out at the end of February, the initial closure of the Strait led to the largest oil supply disruption in history, according to consulting firm Rapidan Energy.—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Panelists will share specific examples from their work on Amazon MGM Studios Originals, discussing triumphs, lessons learned, and what’s to come for Prime Video customers.—
Marcus Jones,
IndieWire,
16 Apr. 2026
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Likewise, Israel and Lebanon began discussing a ceasefire.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Smith said after talking to Gregg, Wheels Up reduced the price to $850, but storage fees for having the car since April 1 bring the grand total to at least $2,600.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
-
The brand promises results in four weeks—we’re talking reduced fine lines, dullness, and dark circles, along with improved elasticity, thanks to collagen-stimulating regrowth that encourages a more youthful appearance.—
Lauren Pardee,
InStyle,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conferring. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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