descry

verb

di-ˈskrī How to pronounce descry (audio)
Definition of descrynext
1
as in to find
to come upon after searching, study, or effort we couldn't descry the reasons for his sudden departure

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes could just descry the ship coming over the horizon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descry
  1. find
  2. notice
  3. learn
  4. see
  5. discover
  6. spot
  7. locate
  8. eye
Verb
  • Gas stations across Russia are imposing limits on purchases, CNN’s analysis found, with fuel- tracking websites popping up to guide drivers to the best spots to fill up.
    — Clare Sebastian, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The incident happened less than a week after another child was found dead inside a car at a Plantation early learning center last Monday.
    — David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 6 July 2026
Definition of find
Verb
  • Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.
    — CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 10 July 2026
  • Clear a shelf, soften a room, or give yourself space to notice what has been quietly building in the background.
    — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 July 2026
Definition of notice
Verb
  • Career readiness and workforce development programs also help students connect their classroom learning to relevant career fields.
    — Sivan Hines, Hartford Courant, 9 July 2026
  • Dawkins learned about the group secondhand on Thursday from somebody who was asked to participate.
    — Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 9 July 2026
Definition of learn
Verb
  • The stadium has been packed, the FIFA World Cup Fan Festival downtown has seen record attendance, and watch parties and other events have spread across the region.
    — Amy Wenk, AJC.com, 9 July 2026
  • The pair even goes on a quasi-date playing beer pong this week with Kendall and Shai, who can see right through Liam’s act.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 9 July 2026
Definition of see
Verb
  • Since February, archaeologists have discovered eight human skeletons, bronze and gold jewelry, pottery and other artifacts indicating a ceremonial burial of wealthy people or members of the society’s upper classes.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2026
  • The Art Newspaper reports that the bacteria was discovered during routine monthly testing earlier this week and that the institution quickly complied with the city’s remediation requirements.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 10 July 2026
Definition of discover
Verb
  • They had been spotted in nearby trees but didn’t immediately return to the nest.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Rodríguez Castro made at least 23 private trips aboard a private jet to Panama between 2024 and late 2025, where he was spotted luxury-shopping.
    — Romina Ruiz-Goiriena, USA Today, 6 July 2026
Definition of spot
Verb
  • The incident happened Friday in Yountville, an unincorporated town located 43 miles north of San Francisco.
    — Jason Green, Mercury News, 7 July 2026
  • The annual memorial, organized by Castile’s mother, Valerie Castile, took place Monday night at the Philando Castile Peace Garden, located outside the north entrance to the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.
    — Tyler Quattrin, Twin Cities, 7 July 2026
Definition of locate
Verb
  • From robber baron to symbologist, Morgan Spector is eyeing a career change.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 10 July 2026
  • Lake Hazel plan ‘critical’ to Micron’s growth The city isn’t the only one eyeing a new Lake Hazel Road.
    — Mark Dee July 10, Idaho Statesman, 10 July 2026
Definition of eye
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.

Browse Nearby Words

descriptive
descry
descrying
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Descry.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descry. Accessed 14 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of yaw

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 10
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
banana-mirrored
Contradictory Words Quiz Pick out which word means one thing…and the opp...
See All