1
as in to feel
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
perceived that it was going to be a nice day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I perceive your point, but I still disagree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perceive
The researchers wanted to examine whether young people who perceived their caregivers as frequently distracted by digital devices were more likely to report what’s called insecure attachment styles.
—
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Republican governors were in a battle to be perceived as the leader on the issue.
—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
He’s perceived to be to the political left of Starmer – an asset with Labour members – and is acknowledged as one of the party’s best communicators.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Modern gadgets are damaging our ability to daydream, socialize and perceive the physical world.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Katia Hetter,
CNN Money,
20 June 2026
Republican governors were in a battle to be perceived as the leader on the issue.
—
Jon McGowan,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
He’s perceived to be to the political left of Starmer – an asset with Labour members – and is acknowledged as one of the party’s best communicators.
—
ABC News,
19 June 2026
Modern gadgets are damaging our ability to daydream, socialize and perceive the physical world.
—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceive
Verb
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The relaxed silhouette has the same easygoing feel, and the floral print adds personality without feeling unwearable.
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The watershed decision triggered a period of political instability and economic upheaval that is still being felt a decade later.
Verb
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Sensors alone are not a cure for such failures, but better measurements can help engineers notice when important details are changing.
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Pryor also noticed that Black students were frequently more hesitant to participate in these conversations.
Verb
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These reports present your income and spending habits with clean, easy-to-understand visualizations.
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Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Burle Marx understood the country’s abundance as both subject and material.
Verb
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Odd to be so close without sensing the pain in my body.
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Researchers trained the sensing system using more than 12,000 data samples collected during 157 cutting motions.
Verb
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While many people were surprised to see the warning pop up on their phones, especially those living hundreds of miles from the epicenter, officials say the ShakeAlert system is designed to err on the side of caution.
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She was last seen wearing a black shirt and shorts, police said.
Verb
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It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
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Martin, 36, best known for his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was selected in August as one of the top-50 players in franchise history as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Verb
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In a strange twist, the potential buyer reportedly smelled a rat and reached out to someone with the company, to make sure the machinery hadn’t been stolen.
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Plug-ins, candles and sprays running at the same time generate competing scent signals, which is part of why a house can smell different in every room and not in a good way.
Verb
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Within hours, he was spotted on Santa Clara Valley Water District property at Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road.
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The marshals received a tip Tuesday that the man had been spotted at his residence in Meridian, the release said.
Cite this Entry
“Perceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceive. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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