RECOGNIZE Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

recognize

verb

ˈre-kig-ˌnīz

Definition of recognize

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of finally recognized that we were hopelessly lost

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to honor

to show appreciation, respect, or affection for (someone) with a public celebration an awards banquet to recognize local heroes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 recognize According to authorities, a Good Samaritan recognized Antoine from their flyer and contacted authorities after the department released the footage last week. — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026 The Colorado Peaches are recognized as the oldest women's softball team in the country. — Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Sep. 2026 Malkovich was feted by the fest with its Silver Medallion, which recognized not only his performance as a dying CIA agent reflecting on his life in Martin McDonagh’s dramedy, but his entire body of work. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 And the president recognized Crowther, also a volunteer firefighter, by awarding him the Presidential Medal of Freedom. — Seung Min Kim, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recognize

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognize

Verb

People with brain damage can lose the ability to understand or speak words yet still do math, play chess and compose music.

— George Musser, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2026
New York already understands the importance of making its cultural life more accessible, and Mayor Mamdani’s recent TDF initiative to give free tickets to high schoolers offers one model.

— Brian Beirne, New York Daily News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

The foundation also hosts the annual Phoenix Awards, a dinner held during CBC Week that honors those viewed as stakeholders by the foundation.

— Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
The screenings will take place the same week that Blanchett is to be honored in Tokyo with the festival’s Praemium Imperiale Award.

— Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of honor

Verb

Archival records showed that modern state officials had known about the existence of cemetery for decades but had done nothing to restore it or memorialize the children.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 12 Sep. 2026
Other vipers are known to flick their tails, especially baby vipers with bright green or neon yellow tail tips that might appear like a wiggly worm to unsuspecting frogs.

— Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Baggs, hopefully your editor passes this along, but just wanted to thank you for your incredible coverage of the Giants.

— Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
The actor thanked producers and writers of the project, as well as the technicians who brought her co-star — an octopus named Marcellus — to life.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of thank

Verb

No, multiple academics have attempted to decipher the meaning behind the mightily adorable meow of the domestic house cat.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Taxpayer groups working across multiple cities and counties should not have to decipher different deadlines and procedures in every jurisdiction.

— Marc Joffe, Oc Register, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of decipher

Verb

Emmys nights one and two saw Widow’s Bay pick up a whopping eight trophies, one short of The Studio’s total of nine last year, and this evening might end with Widow’s Bay grabbing a lot of the same awards The Studio did last year.

— Vulture Staff, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
The bookshelf becomes a collective record of the times, ways of seeing, forms that flourished during particular eras, and also questions that persist across centuries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of see

Verb

Max Fletcher, Cincinnati’s second-team All-Big 12 punter, lined up in the backfield in the second quarter of a 34-15 victory, ran a wheel route and made an 8-yard grab on fourth down — a play special teams fans everywhere had to appreciate.

— Manny Navarro, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
The tell-like-it-is prose of Swanson is refreshing and appreciating to read.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of appreciate

Browse Nearby Words

recognizances

recognize

recognized

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Style

“Recognize.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognize. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of recognize

verb

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