SIFT Synonyms: 35 Similar and Opposite Words

sift

verb

Definition of sift

as in to filter

Related Words

Relevance

Dissimilar Words

as in to inspect

Related 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 sift In the past, hackers had to purchase or download entire databases of credentials and sift through them themselves to find specific people. — Alan Henry, PC Magazine, 26 June 2026 To make them, sift together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 teaspoon baking powder, ½ teaspoon baking soda, ¼ teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons sugar in a large bowl. — Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 16 June 2026 No longer in the mode of hoarding futures and accumulating options, General Manager Pat Verbeek and his staff will now need to sift through their stockpile. — Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 If baking powder or cream of tartar appears lumpy, sift it through a fine-mesh sieve. — Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for sift

Recent Examples of Synonyms for sift

Verb

Diseases that damage the kidneys and impair their ability to filter blood were blamed for 55,081 deaths in 2024.

— Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Afternoon sun floods through the windows, filtered by gauzy curtains.

— Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 July 2026

Definition of filter

Verb

The restaurant received a score of 68 and has since been re-inspected and cleared to open.

— Mary Ella Hastings July 3, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 July 2026
The Venezuelan College of Engineers (CIV) has launched emergency training sessions for engineers, architects and technical specialists who will inspect damaged structures and determine whether they can be repaired or must be demolished.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 4 July 2026

Definition of inspect

Verb

After sufficient brewing time, pour the tea into the pitcher through a fine mesh filter or sieve to remove the loose leaves or take out and throw out the whole tea bags.

— BestReviews, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Creativity is not just some commodity, trapped in the imagination, that can be tapped and sieved by technology.

— John Semley, Wired News, 1 Apr. 2026

Definition of sieve

Verb

Counties investigate these cases, and officials acknowledge that fraud exists, but neither the state nor local property appraisers publish verifiable statewide fraud statistics.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 5 July 2026
The incident, which authorities are investigating, occurred 30 nautical miles (around 55 kilometers) southwest of Yemen’s Red Sea port of Al Hudaydah, UKMTO said.

— Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of investigate

Verb

The pilot program has laid bare a host of questions about the role of AI in medicine, including how it should be regulated, whether doctors should be able to veto it, and what kind of safety measures are needed to protect patients.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
During his 24 years on the Board of Supervisors, Haggerty’s vision of a connected Bay Area laid the groundwork for some of the largest infrastructure projects under construction today.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 6 July 2026

Definition of lay

Verb

Apple examines each application and each update of every third-party app, and if these don’t meet Apple’s definition of acceptable, then they are not allowed to be installed.

— Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 6 July 2026
These agencies examine the water in comparison to contamination thresholds to determine if the area is swimmable.

— Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026

Definition of examine

Verb

Other schools opted to use the grant funds to upgrade their visitor management platforms, which screens guests who enter the buildings.

— Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026
Riders are screened before competitions and anyone considered too inexperienced is denied entry.

— Hilary Whiteman, CNN Money, 5 July 2026

Definition of screen

Browse Nearby Words

sieving

sift

sifted

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Sift.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sift. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of sift

verb

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