COTTON (TO OR ON TO) Synonyms: 48 Similar and Opposite Words

cotton (to or on to)

verb

Definition of cotton (to or on to)

as in to know

to have a clear idea of failed to cotton on to the fact that her senatorial campaign was going nowhere

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for cotton (to or on to)

Verb

Vasil didn’t know what his teammates were planning and was clearly touched by the display of support.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
No group immediately claimed responsibility for the attack, but suspicion was likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, formally known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Sep. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

People with brain damage can lose the ability to understand or speak words yet still do math, play chess and compose music.

— George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
New York already understands the importance of making its cultural life more accessible, and Mayor Mamdani’s recent TDF initiative to give free tickets to high schoolers offers one model.

— Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

No, multiple academics have attempted to decipher the meaning behind the mightily adorable meow of the domestic house cat.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Taxpayer groups working across multiple cities and counties should not have to decipher different deadlines and procedures in every jurisdiction.

— Marc Joffe, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

Scientists analyze mutations in a patient’s tumor and create a personalized therapy designed to train the immune system to recognize and attack the cancer.

— Sally C. Pipes, Chicago Tribune, 20 Sep. 2026
The School Board’s decision to dedicate 90% of these referendum dollars directly to teachers, education professionals and frontline support staff recognizes where our priorities should be.

— Roberto Fernandez III, Sun Sentinel, 20 Sep. 2026

Definition of recognize

Verb

In fact, the ability to see the curve from 25 meters away may only hold in perfect theoretical conditions—such as a single high-contrast line on a two-dimensional surface.

— Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2026
Many could barely see the painting clearly with their own eyes, yet they were focused on capturing it.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

Ironically, sports uniforms at Eton are even harder to comprehend than the regular daily uniform.

— Eva Wolchover, Vanity Fair, 21 Sep. 2026
After an incredible day exploring Bimota’s unique vision for the KB998 Rimini at Laguna Seca, trying to comprehend how well the Elite version rides on track takes some fantastic leaps of imagination.

— Michael Van Runkle, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

Barrow and Drummond are compatriots from the war; Barrow appreciates Drummond as the first white man who did not first judge him by the color of his skin, but Drummond is acting weird.

— John Warner, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
People traveling with family (or a lot of luggage) will appreciate the generous wardrobe and shelf space, with enough room to store your suitcases and keep the room uncluttered.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of appreciate

Verb

Before altering the entire landscape, new leaders should delve deeply into the current organizational context, consider professional opinions from technology teams, and grasp the insights on existing pain points.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Congress ultimately adopted this image in the Great Seal of the United States in 1782, with a bald eagle grasping 13 arrows in one foot, and an olive branch representing peace in the other.

— Scott Baldauf, Christian Science Monitor, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of grasp

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.

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cotton (to)

cotton (to or on to)

cottony

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“Cotton (to or on to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cotton%20%28to%20or%20on%20to%29. Accessed 22 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cotton (to or on to)

verb

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