as in understood
to have a clear idea of
failed to cotton on to the fact that her senatorial campaign was going nowhere
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cottoned (to or on to)
Verb
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However, the country is understood to have large stockpiles and may be capable of producing hundreds more each week, military experts reportedly told The National newspaper.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
5 Mar. 2026 -
The exact mechanism behind these skeletal changes isn’t fully understood.—
Jennifer Byrne,
Popular Science,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hours before the hearing was set to begin, the GOP-run committee released a report alleging Walz and Ellison knew about credible fraud concerns years ago and didn’t act on them, despite their assertions otherwise, purportedly costing taxpayers billions.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
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In 2013, the ALA knew of 307 challenges to reading materials in American libraries — both public and school libraries.—
Christopher Borrelli,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The sun dances to its own (currently less-than-deciphered) rhythms, moving through an 11-year-long cycle.—
Sarah Scoles,
Scientific American,
10 Dec. 2025
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At first this voice from the heavens has seemingly sent a benign message but it’s quickly deciphered to be a DNA cocktail for Earthlings to investigate.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
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No, the actor, now 27 and recognized in the best supporting actress category for her sensitive turn in Joachim Trier’s Sentimental Value, has actually—wait for it—already been working for a quarter of a century.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
8 Mar. 2026
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Management, led by founder and chief executive Kayden Ressel, voluntarily recognized its workers’ efforts to join Actors’ Equity.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ruggeri says that, in comparison to saw palmetto, which gets far more attention.—
Adam Hurly,
Robb Report,
19 Feb. 2026
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During the trial, jurors learned about grim Google searches Brian had made after his wife died, including how to saw a body and how to clean blood off of wood floors.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The company expects a little more of an impact in its Q2, but Cook said it’s fully comprehended in the above Street outlook of 48% to 49%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Marcus Smart and Austin Reaves earned a pair of technical fouls in the second quarter after Celtics small forward Jaylen Brown sent an elbow into Smart’s face on his way to the rim as Boston grasped a 36-33 lead.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
23 Feb. 2026
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Few investors had heard of the World Wide Web, let alone grasped its commercial potential.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Not all voters appreciated the setup.—
From Staff Reports,
Dallas Morning News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The Persian migrants found a land where entrepreneurship was valued and the immigrant spirit appreciated.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Mar. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Cottoned (to or on to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cottoned%20%28to%20or%20on%20to%29. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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