Thesaurus results for POINTER

pointer

noun

ˈpȯin-tər

Definition of pointer

as in needle

an arrow-shaped piece on a dial or scale for registering information the pointer on my bathroom scale must be stuck—I know I lost weight

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in tip

a piece of advice or useful information especially from an expert the instructor gave me a few pointers but otherwise let me do the cooking by myself

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 pointer Those who fail to sing get tagged with a red laser pointer, so pretty much everyone croons. — Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026 According to a source, the Heat has targeted Dallas guard Klay Thompson, who shot 38% on threes last season and is fourth all time in three pointers. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026 By the middle of the third quarter, the KU squad had cut Purple Reign’s lead to seven — until Sneed fought off two JHX Hoops players for an offensive rebound before finding Beasley in the right corner for a 3-pointer. — Christian Marshall, Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026 Howard makes the second-most 3-pointers per game in the league — trailing only Toronto’s Marina Mabrey, who’s also competing. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 22 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pointer

Recent Examples of Synonyms for pointer

Noun

Bone must be separated from surrounding rock millimeter by millimeter with a pneumatic chisel, whose needle gently breaks away rock while ultraviolet light reveals where the bone ends and the surrounding rock begins.

— ABC News, ABC News, 22 July 2026
When middle-sixers such as Kiefer Sherwood and Bobby McMann are getting that for their declining years, a legit needle-mover such as Blake should add a ton of surplus value above that.

— Dom Luszczyszyn, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of needle

Noun

The borrow fee rate—the broker’s annualized overnight fee for lending shares to short sellers—can serve as an intraday indicator of short interest rates.

— David Capablanca, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
On the positive side, this news can be considered another indicator of the insatiable demand for AI and the infrastructure needed to power it.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 July 2026

Definition of indicator

Noun

After bottoming out in October 2002 following the dot-com bust, the index took nearly five years to climb back to a new high in 2007 — a high that didn't even hold, as the Great Recession erased it almost immediately.

— Kevin Williams, CNBC, 26 July 2026
But the heat index — a measure of what the weather feels like, especially when humid — may reach 102, potentially prompting heat advisories.

— Taylor Croft, AJC.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of index

Browse Nearby Words

pointed (up)

pointer

pointers

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pointer.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pointer. Accessed 2 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of pointer

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on pointer

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

highfalutin

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes