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

Relevance

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 The prevention of future pandemics relies on information from previous outbreaks, which is one reason why deciphering the origins of the COVID-19 began is important. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026 Plants can also decipher positive and negative thoughts and attitudes. — Literary Hub, 20 Aug. 2026 When a product is recalled, a human being — an inspector, a store associate or a customer — needs to decipher the bin and lot number to determine whether a product is safe or dangerous. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026 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 See All Example Sentences for decipher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decipher

Verb

Musetti cracked the world’s top five earlier this year, but has been hampered by injuries since.

— Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Eggs are famous for being fragile, cracking open at the slightest nudge against a countertop.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of crack

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

All That Is Left of Life by Roberta Recchia, translated by Antonella Lettieri, is available from Scribner, an imprint of Simon & Schuster.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
The question on everyone’s mind is whether the excitement in the air will translate to sales.

— Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of translate

Verb

Archival records showed that modern state officials had known about the existence of cemetery for decades but had done nothing to restore it or memorialize the children.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

The Durzi addition should also help the Rangers break pucks out of their defensive zone at five-on-five.

— Peter Baugh, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
After enduring a record-shattering heat wave this spring, Southern California continued to break temperature records this week when Long Beach and Anaheim reached a blistering 107 degrees and Escondido hit 112 degrees.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of break

Verb

That makes decoding and playback capabilities an important part of the television itself.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026
While Swift herself was chatting with Tom Cruise at Travis Kelce’s first Kansas City Chiefs home game of the season, Swifties went into full-on investigation mode, decoding every minor detail from the four-minute video.

— Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of decode

Verb

The opinion team should have recognized that his biased anti-Israel position was not relevant to the subject of his commentary.

— Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026
Alas, for all of his brilliance, Miguel struggles to recognize the emergence of his own paranoia, let alone to identify its source.

— David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 8 Sep. 2026