1
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
2
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
As a preface, the conclusion here, deciphered from the scene by this author, was a plea for Giannis Antetokounmpo.
—
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
In corporate news, luxury conglomerate and industry bellwether LVMH reported quarterly sales that missed expectations on Monday as the sector begins to decipher the fallout from the war in the Middle East and its impact on stocks.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decipher
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 16 May 2026
By slow degrees, Philip’s story shifts to accommodate the incontrovertible evidence of IP addresses and deciphered cryptography and Lucy struggles to keep up, let alone understand.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.
—Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
In corporate news, luxury conglomerate and industry bellwether LVMH reported quarterly sales that missed expectations on Monday as the sector begins to decipher the fallout from the war in the Middle East and its impact on stocks.
—Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decipher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decipher
Verb
-
Werber’s intricate world-building and philosophical undercurrents have long been considered unadaptable, but Xilam and UGC have set off crack the beloved novel to deliver a high-concept series aimed at global family audiences, spanning from young viewers to adults who grew up with the bestseller.—
Elsa Keslassy,
Variety,
11 Dec. 2025
-
Hawke plays Hart as a sadsack bon vivant, the life of the party even as his heart was cracking—but then, a heart in the process of breaking may be the purest form of energy known to humankind.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Hughton, whose father is from Accra, understands the frustration of a fanbase starved of success for so long.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
-
In cosmology itself, there has been quite a bit of progress in the past five years to develop the theoretical techniques to understand these three-dimensional data that have been gathered by new devices….—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The experts told Politifact that there isn’t even an accepted way to translate Cratchit’s weekly 15 shillings into 2020s money.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
11 Dec. 2025
-
That special feeling during filming has translated to countless viewers over these three decades.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
11 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Federal authorities said the unsafe or improper use of drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), can pose risks to aircraft, law enforcement operations and people on the ground.—
Zachary Bynum,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
Consider it a hometown tour led by a queen who’s captivated the world but still knows exactly where to find the best pho, the coolest art, and the perfect perch to watch someone else tear up the dance floor.—
Todd Plummer,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The Cubs were in first place After consecutive 83-win seasons, the Cubs pushed their chips into the middle of the table, swinging a trade for Kyle Tucker, signing Matthew Boyd and Carson Kelly in free agency and opening up a lane for then-top prospect Matt Shaw to break camp with the club.—
Stephen J. Nesbitt,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
Let’s break it down by the jobs, which are numbered according to descending tear-off sheets on the contestants’ work stations.—
Tasha Robinson,
Vulture,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The line was that lawyers weren’t technologists, by gosh, so how could they be held to comprehend that AI can hallucinate?—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
But let’s try to comprehend it anyway.—
Jess Weatherbed,
The Verge,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Hodak works primarily on brain-computer interfaces (BCI), or technologies that decode brain activity to perform physical actions, sometimes using chips implanted in the brain.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
11 June 2026
-
But these tools cannot decode the spontaneous, specific content of an individual’s intentions or desires.—
Adeline Goss,
New Yorker,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
In the years that followed, law enforcement agencies nationwide changed their response to active shootings, more clearly recognizing that the first officers on scene should move to confront the shooter immediately, even if alone.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
-
Chicago Fire fans will recognize Brian Gutiérrez, who scored nine goals for the squad last season.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decipher. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
