1
as in specifies
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically
try not to refer to the recent death of her aunt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in goes (to)
to use or seek out as a source of aid, relief, or advantage
she studied so she wouldn't have to refer to the book during the exam
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for refers (to)
Verb
-
Use this setting for any clothing that specifies permanent press on the care tag, as well as with more delicate fabrics that tend to wrinkle.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
5 Jan. 2026 -
Instead, Indiana's Open Door Law only specifies the public's right to observe and record meetings.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
For a more rigorous clean, McAdoo mentions that the mesh filter can usually be unscrewed and taken apart—make a point to paying attention to the order of the pieces for quicker reassembly.—
Yelena Moroz Alpert,
Architectural Digest,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The message does not specifically say which scene Baldoni is referring to but his lawsuit against Lively mentions tension over a rooftop scene in the film that Lively rewrote and presented to Baldoni as her own work before telling media outlets that her husband, Reynolds, actually wrote it.—
Mary Whitfill Roeloffs,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
At the same time, Dell notices the popularity of platforms that let people raise money, and the rise of the creator economy, where a person can be rewarded for putting their rawest self on display.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
One character, an undertaker, notices that death seems to have been suspended.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Irene, overwhelmed, joins her son’s therapy sessions, consults doctors and seeks help in traditional Chinese medicine at the local dispensary.—
Stephen Schaefer,
Boston Herald,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The footage from Minneapolis is disturbing, said Cathy Riggs, a retired Los Angeles police officer of more than 30 years who now consults on police use-of-force cases.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The initial lawsuit, filed on March 17, 2021, cites a 2019 article from The Guardian that found Apple's third-party contractors regularly heard confidential information.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The petition, which was granted by a federal judge, cites reports alleging that guards at the facility choked and asphyxiated Campos.—
Laura Romero,
ABC News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Reframing boundaries as capacity management rather than a blank refusal indicates a strong self-awareness and company-forward mindset.—
Kate Wieczorek,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Data from the state's Bureau of Finance & Management indicates several months measured in FY2025 saw dips in sales and use tax growth.—
Dominik Dausch,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The United Health Foundation notes that insufficient physical activity is linked to higher risks of cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, certain cancers, dementia, anxiety and depression.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The affidavit notes the exact time the police downloaded it from a social platform.—
Deni Ellis Béchard,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
In his dream speech, for example, King alludes to or quotes from the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, the Emancipation Proclamation and the Gettysburg Address.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
18 Jan. 2026
-
The article quotes two current professors but doesn’t explore why other faculty members critical of the school were too frightened to speak on the record in what Corcoran described as a campus finally open to different opinions.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Jan. 2026
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.
Cite this Entry
“Refers (to).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/refers%20%28to%29. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
