DECIPHER Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

decipher

verb

dē-ˈsī-fər

Definition of decipher

as in to crack

to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language we deciphered the hidden message to find out when we were supposed to meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of a convoluted thriller, the plot of which I was never able to actually decipher

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of decipher Western San Gabriel Mountains/Highway 14 Corridor When an air quality alert pops up on the radar, deciphering its implications is crucial. — Southern California Weather Report, Daily News, 30 July 2026 The discovery began in 2024, when a representative of the monastery's preservation association asked Tornau to decipher the manuscript. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2026 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 Jonestown afflicted Naipaul’s vision, his way of deciphering not just political manias but the dreariness of urban life, the perpetual doom of the nuclear-arms race. — Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for decipher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decipher

Verb

Videos show crowds trying to flee a surging wall of mud, rows of buses and trucks swept aside like toys, and bridges cracked apart and swept away.

— Josh Feldman, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Popular and literary myth tells that when martyrs die on the soil, the earth receiving their blood will give forth new fighters, thus the roses scattered on the cracking mud.

— Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of crack

Verb

Luiz understands that aspect, too, acknowledging that Sporting KC needed him four separate times during Thursday’s news conference.

— Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 28 Aug. 2026
Instead of starting with a new component, its engineers worked to understand the hardware already available to NAVAIR.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Industry leaders agree that AI capabilities have yet to fully translate to the frontline.

— Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
There are other aspects of Savinho’s profile that may translate better to a more vertical De Zerbi side compared to Guardiola’s City.

— Ahmed Walid, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of translate

Verb

Kusama’s large-scale sculptures and immersive installations break attendance records at museums and galleries around the world, and her works regularly set records at auction.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Diamondbacks third baseman Jose Fernandez broke hard for the ball, and no one covered third in his place.

— Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of break

Verb

Autistic people of all genders often struggle with nuances of social communication like decoding nonverbal cues, identifying shifts in tone or asking reciprocal questions.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026
QAnon invited users to build the theory by decoding messages on social media.

— Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of decode

Verb

The honorees, recognized for their craftsmanship, service and dedication within the property department and the broader production community in entertainment, were announced Tuesday.

— Isabelle Farina, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
The following year, she was recognized with the prestigious Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy for her decades of charitable efforts, which also include her foundation’s Imagination Library, a monthly book gifting program for children under five.

— Kayla Grant, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026