as in finds
to come upon after searching, study, or effort
I can detect just a hint of lemon in the soup
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 detects
Get alerts if the system detects acute distress.
—
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
If ChatGPT detects a teenager may be in mental distress, a human reviewer will determine whether to send an emergency alert to a parent.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Winged munition autonomously detects moving targets Raytheon also highlighted that the StormBreaker smart weapon gives operators an upper hand in combat by hitting moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Diagnosis usually involves a laboratory test that detects the bacterium’s genetic material from either DNA or RNA.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
The digital display can be controlled by hand gestures via a wristband that detects muscle activity.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
BirdCast uses National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather data (which detects large groups of them) and weather forecasts to predict nightly migration hotspots.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Presently, if the Izaña system detects a fragment of space debris hurtling towards a satellite, the satellite then has to take evasive action, firing thrusters to push it out of the way.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
At very least, the city could use the team’s surveillance system to create a low-cost network that detects rat hot spots and infestation spikes—a real-time rodent weather report that would allow city officials to target their responses.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2025
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2025
If ChatGPT detects a teenager may be in mental distress, a human reviewer will determine whether to send an emergency alert to a parent.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 29 Sep. 2025
Winged munition autonomously detects moving targets Raytheon also highlighted that the StormBreaker smart weapon gives operators an upper hand in combat by hitting moving targets in some of the worst weather conditions.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
Diagnosis usually involves a laboratory test that detects the bacterium’s genetic material from either DNA or RNA.
—Daryl Austin, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
The digital display can be controlled by hand gestures via a wristband that detects muscle activity.
—Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
BirdCast uses National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather data (which detects large groups of them) and weather forecasts to predict nightly migration hotspots.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 17 Sep. 2025
Presently, if the Izaña system detects a fragment of space debris hurtling towards a satellite, the satellite then has to take evasive action, firing thrusters to push it out of the way.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 15 Sep. 2025
At very least, the city could use the team’s surveillance system to create a low-cost network that detects rat hot spots and infestation spikes—a real-time rodent weather report that would allow city officials to target their responses.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detects
Verb
-
As if the stunning animation and rich worldbuilding weren’t enough, Arcane also has high-stakes lesbian tension — over the course of the show’s two seasons, Vi finds unexpected romance with Piltover enforcer Caitlyn (Katie Leung).—
Abby Monteil,
Them.,
15 Oct. 2025
-
But this September 1995 set, captured live shortly after the release of D’Angelo’s debut, finds him in full flight as a 21-year-old, with his paramour at the time, the late Angie Stone, delivering stellar backing vocals.—
Jem Aswad,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Through perseverance, the seed discovers the power of her roots, triggering a revolution that transforms her world and fulfills her dreams in an unexpected way.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
By the end of the movie, which is far more upbeat than the Thomas Pynchon novel that inspired it, Bob discovers that the villainous Colonel Steven.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When Lo learns the truth, Carrie locks her in a cabin below deck.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
-
When Lo learns that Carrie is having an affair with Richard, she’s creeped out by him choosing a woman who looks like a younger, healthier version of Anne.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Safdie perceptively locates the protagonist’s troubling inner contradictions—the atavistic fury that drives him to compete and the intense self-control that competition demands—but dramatizes such outer crises as opioid addiction and conflict with his girlfriend (Emily Blunt) only schematically.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
When Jem locates his brother, Ray has been living off the grid for 20 years, having fled the family nest.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Detects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detects. Accessed 17 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share