RECOGNIZING Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

recognizing

verb

present participle of recognize

as in knowing

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in honoring

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 recognizing So there's some history of the British recognizing the value of a good laugh, perhaps especially in politics. — Scott Simon, NPR, 11 July 2026 The study proposes 12 strategies to strengthen the ecosystem, including expanding funding tools, improving tax incentives, supporting distribution and promotion, and recognizing the operational costs needed to build resilient production companies. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 11 July 2026 Kudos to this content creator for recognizing the value of networking in a job search. — Caroline Ceniza-Levine, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 That said, recognizing transit as a public good does not mean accepting poor performance. — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 July 2026 Researchers are increasingly recognizing one secret to mental health that can be found inside the club’s doors. — Annalisa Merelli, STAT, 10 July 2026 James Woods James Woods has consistently shared patriotic messages recognizing America's history, military and founding principles. — Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026 The market is oversaturated, and Riley is a genius for not only recognizing that but realizing that all of these new DJs are going to need lawyers to negotiate their contracts. — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 2 July 2026 McCurnin then requested surveillance of the area after recognizing an opportunity to identify the suspect. — Velvet Wu july 1, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recognizing

Verb

The challenge is no longer finding new avenues for growth, but knowing which ones to pursue without repeating the gradual dilution that weakened the brand before.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 16 July 2026
The men who get real value out of knowing their T levels aren’t the ones chasing a higher number.

— Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Definition of knowing

Verb

The distinction is traditionally bestowed upon longtime faculty and staff, with CSUF officials honoring the campus careers that were cut short but remain woven into the institution’s history.

— Mona Darwish, Oc Register, 14 July 2026
In this film by Mira Nair, based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, the Ganguli family maintain a delicate balancing act between honoring the traditions of their native India and blending into American culture after moving from Calcutta to New York.

— Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 14 July 2026

Definition of honoring

Verb

In 2023, the Vesuvius Challenge made its first award for deciphering the first letters, and the following year, the project awarded the grand prize of $700,000 for producing the first readable text.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 30 June 2026
Already, papyrologists are deciphering new texts that indicate other possible authors in the Herculaneum collection, including one of the leaders of the Stoic philosophy school.

— Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 June 2026

Definition of deciphering

Verb

True, nothing so grand as a massive dragon and naval battle took place, but seeing Rhaenyra start to change into someone almost unrecognizable from her younger, more innocent self was compelling in a deeper way.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
Hernandez, 29, a contractor based in Franklin, about 20 miles south of Nashville, undertook the $380 project with furniture from HomeGoods after seeing his pet spend most of her life tucked away in a little corner.

— Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of seeing

Verb

Hard sci-fi, meanwhile, leans into the fact that life evolving on other planets, under different conditions, and across different stretches of time will almost certainly take on forms so different from ours that comprehending them would be like imagining a new color.

— Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.

— Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026

Definition of comprehending

Verb

Intellectual property assets – like patents, trademarks and other types of intangible property – have been appreciating at a much faster pace than physical investments in recent years.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 13 July 2026
Here are Neill’s highlights, all worth rewatching for the sake of better appreciating a sophisticated presence often on the sidelines.

— Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Definition of appreciating

Verb

The moniker was assigned to Trump by Kurt Andersen and Grayden Carter’s Spy Magazine in 1988 as a sardonic stab at his attention grasping drive.

— Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 8 July 2026
This enables users to perform everyday grasping tasks, such as holding plates, glasses, forks, spoons, and other household objects with a secure grip.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

Definition of grasping

Browse Nearby Words

recognizes

recognizing

recoil

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Recognizing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/recognizing. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of recognizing

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on recognizing

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

obdurate

Popular in Grammar & Usage

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

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17

Popular

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

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes