1
as in senses
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in notices
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 understands
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 perceives
When the brain perceives threat or stress, a small structure called the amygdala activates the body’s alarm system.
—
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In a process called simultaneous contrast, our brain perceives colored objects in relation to the color of the background that they’re viewed against.
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 23 Mar. 2026
The legal penalties for people abroad echo the clause in the National Security Law which China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, which states that authorities can prosecute people based outside China over actions that Beijing perceives as secession or subversion.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
The White House perceives Iran to be weak.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Mar. 2026
Perhaps this exemplifies how the East perceives the body.
—Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
In the midst of constant motion, one rarely perceives the quiet influence exerted on others.
—Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Asked whether launching from Riyadh changes how the industry perceives him, Lindeberg was direct.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
Once these precedents are established, the targets can be anyone the Administration perceives as its enemy.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Rabbi Bruce D. Forman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026
In a process called simultaneous contrast, our brain perceives colored objects in relation to the color of the background that they’re viewed against.
—Nora Bradford, Scientific American, 23 Mar. 2026
The legal penalties for people abroad echo the clause in the National Security Law which China imposed on Hong Kong in 2020, which states that authorities can prosecute people based outside China over actions that Beijing perceives as secession or subversion.
—ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
The White House perceives Iran to be weak.
—The Week Uk, TheWeek, 8 Mar. 2026
Perhaps this exemplifies how the East perceives the body.
—Li Qi, Artforum, 6 Mar. 2026
In the midst of constant motion, one rarely perceives the quiet influence exerted on others.
—Nia Bowers, Ascend Agency, 20 Feb. 2026
Asked whether launching from Riyadh changes how the industry perceives him, Lindeberg was direct.
—Ritu Upadhyay, Footwear News, 19 Feb. 2026
Once these precedents are established, the targets can be anyone the Administration perceives as its enemy.
—Binaifer Nowrojee, Time, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceives
Verb
-
Someone senses something is wrong — unstable snow, deteriorating conditions, a risky route — but speaking up means challenging the plan and slowing everyone down.—
Jane Sadowsky,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And yet, Rachel senses, something is not right.—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Paula notices that every time her husband leaves the house, the lights in the home dim minutes later.—
Emma Bowman,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Shortly after arriving at the Hotel Providence, the narrator notices that the building is situated across the street from a church that once hosted an experimental theater space.—
Hannah Gold,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Toussaint, the alumna who lives nearby, understands the dangers of crossing, even with the pedestrian signal.—
Johane Saintil,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Their exits stem from creative decisions around their storylines, THR understands.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
With its 18th-century buildings and cobblestones, rue de la Commune feels like the Rive Droite in Paris—except instead of a rivulet, the water is the size of a sea.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
But for students like 11-year-old Dutra, the loss feels personal.—
Da Lin,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Many employers are increasingly relying on rolling or phased layoffs, meaning the public often sees announcements weeks or months before job losses actually begin.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Canales, in particular, sees the upside in the addition, not only for Carolina, but Pickett as well.—
Mike Kaye
March 31,
Charlotte Observer,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of her assistant coaches is Wendale Farrow, who knows Sacramento well.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The Fairfield community surrounding Travis Air Force Base knows all too well the realities and uncertainties that come with wartime.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But an internal committee that hears claims about judicial conduct and disability rejected Newman's due process claims in a March 24 decision.—
Carrie Johnson,
NPR,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Henry hears her and runs up to the stones, and, well, what’s a guy to do?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The hiring spree comes as the company shifts more aggressively toward enterprise sales and tries to regain momentum against Anthropic and Google, and as the company eyes a possible IPO within the next 12 months.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Subsequently, the filmmaker became enamored with airplanes and transferred that same fascination onto Lil Ant, who eyes the planes overhead with palpable yearning and, at one point, shoplifts a toy plane from a store.—
Vikram Murthi,
IndieWire,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perceives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceives. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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