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
Both moral panics perceived a threat in society.
—
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Witches were no longer solely perceived as agents of Satan, but cool girls and women who had agency and autonomy over their lives.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Onscreen, Evans’s Mike Tyler instead takes a more self-destructive route — at times, equal parts hilarious and harrowing — preoccupied by his public image and being perceived as a righteous do-gooder.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
None of it is meant to be perceived in a scary way.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Kevin Dickinson, Big Think, 2 Sep. 2025
Witches were no longer solely perceived as agents of Satan, but cool girls and women who had agency and autonomy over their lives.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 2 Sep. 2025
Onscreen, Evans’s Mike Tyler instead takes a more self-destructive route — at times, equal parts hilarious and harrowing — preoccupied by his public image and being perceived as a righteous do-gooder.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 2 Sep. 2025
None of it is meant to be perceived in a scary way.
—Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 1 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceive
Verb
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Louisville feels the time is now to approach the NCAA about 2013 in light of the Michigan sign stealing outcome and seismic changes in college sports.—
Ray Padilla,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
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The Cubs’ inability to give themselves an offensive cushion makes mistakes feel bigger.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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That 2024 law induced the companies to decrease the odds of winning, which negatively affected bettors in the aggregate, albeit not in so direct a way that the casual gambler would notice.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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These measurements are fundamental to understanding how greenhouse gas emissions relate to rising temperatures, simultaneously contributing to scientific research and informing policymakers of compliance with environmental regulations.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
6 Sep. 2025
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If the marathons of New York and London showcase splendour and establishment and magnificence and size and place, then the Great North Run offers something else; to complete it, to witness it, is to understand its pull.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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La Sibilla and Cantina del Mare both produce wines with abundant salinity, and in the whites wines (from Falanghina Flegria), one senses the surrounding landscape acutely.—
Paul Caputo,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
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However, Simpson didn't have that marquee moment in the game in which Alabama could sense that a comeback was brewing.—
Eduardo Razo,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Taylor also drew false-start and holding penalties in the first half, and teammate Travis Kelce had seen enough during the Chiefs’ season-opening game Friday against the Chargers in São Paulo, Brazil.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
6 Sep. 2025
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However, only select regions will get to see the eclipse, including New Zealand, southern Australia, parts of the Pacific and Atlantic, Asia, Africa, and Antarctica.—
Diana Leyva,
Nashville Tennessean,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Some Minnesotans and national political commentators have said that, given these threats were known long before the shooting, the response of public safety officials was lacking.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Aug. 2025
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The bucks know there will be fights over the females.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The costars are coy about the finality of their deaths but are willing to indulge the hope that the Roses smell the gas and escape.—
Erin Jensen,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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But a mosquito will often smell you first.—
John Tufts,
IndyStar,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This center-court suite—where celebrities like Clairo, Angela Kinsey, Connie Briton, and Chelsea Handler were spotted on opening night—highlights the airline’s premiere service and offers a taste of the amenities found in its upper-tier cabins.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Aug. 2025
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Find an unobstructed view toward the east for the best chance of spotting it — but be prepared for a tricky observation.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Perceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceive. Accessed 6 Sep. 2025.
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