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

cottoned (to or on to)

verb

past tense of cotton (to or on to)

as in understood

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 cottoned (to or on to)

Verb

Being understood may feel surprisingly different from being agreed with, and possibly much more useful.

— Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 19 Sep. 2026
But board books are understood more clearly to be for a younger audience, often one that can’t read themselves.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of understood

Verb

Uncertainty notwithstanding, the longevity world has glommed onto the notion that the vaginal microbiome is some kind of exotic tealeaf that can be deciphered—and perfected by purchasing the right supplements.

— Sarah DiGregorio, Vanity Fair, 27 July 2026
Its successor script, Linea B, was also a mystery until it was deciphered in 1952 by an amateur linguist and cryptographer Michael Ventris with the help of classicist John Chadwick, both building on patterns in the script first identified by classicist Alice Kober.

— Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Definition of deciphered

Verb

Scott Keever is an entrepreneur, internationally recognized SEO expert, online reputation mastermind and Founder of Reputation Pros.

— Scott Keever, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
There is a lineup of countries waiting to get in, with nine countries currently recognized as candidates for EU membership.

— Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of recognized

Verb

The polling points to the enduring legacy of 9/11, even as many Americans today are too young to have experienced or comprehended the event a quarter-century ago.

— Linley Sanders, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
The frames keep changing regardless of how much the viewer has noticed or comprehended.

— Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of comprehended

Verb

When visiting Ground Zero, Surdo said he was struck by the scale and the enormity of the destruction and the sulfurish smell, which were two things that couldn’t be grasped by seeing the site on television.

— Andis Robeznieks, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Ashton Daniels, who started his career at Stanford and then appeared in four games at Auburn last season, has quickly grasped the offense, according to every testimonial delivered by teammates and FSU offensive coaches since the spring.

— Andre C. Fernandez, Miami Herald, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of grasped

Verb

Reyez appreciated the festival being free to attendees and the affordability of the food and items available at booths.

— J.M. Banks, Kansas City Star, 14 Sep. 2026
This was in the nineties, before real-estate investment trusts and private-equity firms had fully appreciated the cash-cow potential of housing people’s stuff, so there weren’t many similar facilities around.

— David Owen, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of appreciated

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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cottoned (to)

cottoned (to or on to)

cottoning (to)

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“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 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of cottoned (to or on to)

verb

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