as in indicative
indicating something
his tendency to use weasel words is seen as a signifying character trait
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in meaning
to be of importance
never mind, as the color of the room doesn't signify in the least
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in denoting
to communicate or convey (as an idea) to the mind
the symbol failed to signify anything to me—until I realized that it was upside down
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in indicating
to serve as a sign or symptom of
the opening of the new mall signifies the city's overdue emergence from economic depression
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of signifying
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The mislabeling of President Andrew Jackson’s portrait is just one of the telltale signs signifying that some bills getting passed around in Greater Boston are movie props and not legal tender.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Painted pink since 1918 (signifying peace at the end of World War I), the ‘Nellie’ is Cape Town’s ‘grande dame’, and dates back to 1899.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
In 2024, Fitzpatrick won reelection by nearly 13 percentage points, up from less than nine in his first election in 2016, signifying security in a historically swing-happy region, built through a meticulously moderate voting history.
—Zak Hudak, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Gaps between research and product As 420 – signifying April 20, a day celebrating cannabis culture – approaches each year, public attention turns toward the legal status of cannabis.
—Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Other stars such as Ayesha and Steph Curry, Zendaya and Tom Holland and Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have also gotten tattoos signifying special moments in their love stories, such as initials, their children's names and symbols of their union.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Eleven council members, including Lucas, have co-sponsored the measure, signifying that an emergency ordinance could have more than enough votes to pass.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2026
The horn blared at Rogers Centre for the first time in eight days, signifying the Jays’ 4-3 win.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Bally’s Chicago hosted a topping-off ceremony Thursday marking the placement of the final beam, a milestone signifying the completion of the structural framework.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026
The mislabeling of President Andrew Jackson’s portrait is just one of the telltale signs signifying that some bills getting passed around in Greater Boston are movie props and not legal tender.
—Flint McColgan, Boston Herald, 24 Apr. 2026
Painted pink since 1918 (signifying peace at the end of World War I), the ‘Nellie’ is Cape Town’s ‘grande dame’, and dates back to 1899.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
In 2024, Fitzpatrick won reelection by nearly 13 percentage points, up from less than nine in his first election in 2016, signifying security in a historically swing-happy region, built through a meticulously moderate voting history.
—Zak Hudak, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Gaps between research and product As 420 – signifying April 20, a day celebrating cannabis culture – approaches each year, public attention turns toward the legal status of cannabis.
—Lucy Xiaolu Wang, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
Other stars such as Ayesha and Steph Curry, Zendaya and Tom Holland and Chrissy Teigen and John Legend have also gotten tattoos signifying special moments in their love stories, such as initials, their children's names and symbols of their union.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
Eleven council members, including Lucas, have co-sponsored the measure, signifying that an emergency ordinance could have more than enough votes to pass.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 11 Apr. 2026
The horn blared at Rogers Centre for the first time in eight days, signifying the Jays’ 4-3 win.
—Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for signifying
Adjective
-
Each instance brought chest bumps and high fives from the Newcastle defenders, indicative of a team that prides itself on overpowering opponents.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
-
Past performance is not indicative of future results.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
City were dominant at Wembley throughout, if not a little disjointed in attack — meaning Guardiola was forced to bring on Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Erling Haaland, Nico O’Reilly and Bernardo Silva in the second half to get them over the line and into next month’s final against Chelsea.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
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Also, there are still several ships at sea carrying inventory from before the war, meaning cheap virgin supplies are still making their way to processors.—
Susanne Rust,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The new jet also features 13 stars denoting the 13 original colonies on its fuselage, the main body of an aircraft, and a circle of stars on each engine cowling, or covering, reflecting the original Betsy Ross flag and an America250 decal on the nose and winglet.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
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But our understanding of pedantry, denoting the sticklerishness of academic specialists and grammar obsessives, is a relatively narrow one.—
Clare Bucknell,
The New York Review of Books,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America (FDRA) took particular exception to Vietnam being branded with a scarlet letter, indicating that an investigation could lead to higher footwear costs.—
Kate Nishimura,
Footwear News,
1 May 2026
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Many of the Huayuan fossils look similar, if not identical, to those in the Burgess Shale, indicating that these marine ecosystems were connected by global ocean currents.—
Marlowe Starling,
Quanta Magazine,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The youngins also want a yacht that is design-forward and reflective of their taste.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
2 May 2026
-
The move feels reflective of the state of things.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Missouri faces a legal battle over a referendum to redraw one key district even before weighing changes under the Supreme Court’s decision.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
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Atmos Rewards members can pack up to 12 bottles in a box or case weighing 50 pounds or less.—
Hali Smith,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The hospitalization estimates are equally absurd, implying that one in 18 additional Americans would have required hospitalization for COVID from December 2020–November 2022.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
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But the majority of analysts have only a hold rating, with a price target implying shares will pull back about 7% over the next year, according to LSEG.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lajos’s transparent skin, initially so intriguing, does not end up mattering or meaning anything.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
-
Lajos’s transparent skin, initially so intriguing, does not end up mattering or meaning anything.—
Becca Rothfeld,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Signifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/signifying. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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