Thesaurus results for INTERPRETATION

interpretation

noun

in-ˌtər-prə-ˈtā-shən

Definition of interpretation

as in explanation

a statement that makes something clear that's one possible interpretation of that cryptic remark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in version

a presentation of an artistic work (as a piece of music) from a particular point of view a sensitive interpretation of a piece that is a touchstone for violinists

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in variation

a distinct treatment of something (as a story or a play) a very Freudian interpretation of The Nutcracker

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 interpretation Its effects accumulate and are filtered through context and third-party interpretation, making its contribution harder to isolate. — Julia Ruttner, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026 The tricky thing for Scott was to unshackle his old interpretation of the role. — Anne Thompson, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026 Lucas says her words reflect her interpretation of the Bible and are constitutionally protected. — Savannah Peters, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026 Protecting someone’s right to reject the American experiment is different from treating that rejection as simply another interpretation of it. — Joe Daniels, Time, 11 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for interpretation

Recent Examples of Synonyms for interpretation

Noun

Fans want to go inside, so just telling viewers the terms along with a one-line explanation goes a long way.

— Andrew Marchand, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
The documents provide explanations of the company’s advertising and privacy practices, as well as members’ rights and controls.

— Daniel Arkin, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of explanation

Noun

Both Mac security firm Jamf and a researcher have documented macOS variations of ClickFix that can bypass Gatekeeper protections.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
MagNav deploys an ultra-sensitive quantum sensor to measure local variations in the Earth’s magnetic field.

— Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of variation

Noun

Its collection deliberately defies conventional boundaries between fine and popular art, placing painting and sculpture alongside illustration, comics, photography, and cinema.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026
MasterCard and Visa cards are seen in this illustration photo taken in Krakow, Poland on March 29, 2024.

— Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of illustration

Noun

Twain points to the dramatic differences between Parton’s original and Houston’s blockbuster rendition as an example of how a song can change dramatically while remaining fundamentally itself.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 10 Sep. 2026
The Seahawks unveiled the second Super Bowl banner in team history before McCready’s strumming, which drew shades of another Seattle legend, Jimi Hendrix, and his rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner at Woodstock in 1969.

— Andrew Destin, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of rendition

Noun

Adding to this bold take is the return of QB Daniel Jones, who will be nine months removed from right Achilles surgery when the season begins.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
While Michiganders may be more concerned about paying their utility and grocery bills, the take garnered national attention and caught the eye of people across the country who were willing to donate to el Sayed’s campaign.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of take

Noun

The word ‘gordo’ in Spanish means fat, which brought Barca fans to attempt a funny translation of the England international’s surname from Gordon to Gros.

— Pol Ballús, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Karrington now operates within Upscale, working directly with the company’s development team on the translation of his novels into episodic vertical form.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of translation

Noun

The Pyramid Club, a site famous for its drag performances in the 1980s and ’90s, permanently shuttered in 2022, and the site currently houses a café and rock club.

— David Freedlander, Curbed, 11 Sep. 2026
For me, the most important aspects of this game for the Vikings are the performances of the offensive and defensive lines.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of performance

Browse Nearby Words

interpret

interpretation

interpretations

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Interpretation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/interpretation. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of interpretation

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

facsimile

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Words from the 'Odyssey'

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Back to School Vocabulary

Games & Quizzes