spelling out

verb

present participle of spell out
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 spelling out The Secretary of State's office also released a contingency plan spelling out exactly how a statewide hand recount would be run if Lindell posts the bond by Monday's deadline. — Eric Henderson, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026 Existing plans must also mail every enrollee an Annual Notice of Change around the same time, spelling out exactly what that person’s premium, deductible and covered drugs will look like in January. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 After a court filing spelling out the agreement came during the last hour of trading on Wall Street, shares in Paramount added to what was already a lackluster day. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 24 July 2026 The motion was denied, and in the early hours of June 13, the center removed the letters spelling out the president’s name. — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026 The doctor has a right to contest these before a health law judge or the commission issues a final order spelling out any disciplinary action or dropping the case. — Ashley Hiruko, ProPublica, 8 July 2026 The two sides still have to finalize agreements spelling out the services that will be provided at each venue by July 2027. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026 Coupal initially stood his ground, but later issued a letter spelling out terms for the eventual agreement. — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 26 June 2026 After a day of legal maneuvers and thunderstorms, workers began the process in the early morning hours of removing the letters spelling out the Republican president’s name from the facade of the iconic performing arts venue. — Steven Sloan, Fortune, 13 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for spelling out
  1. explaining
  2. illustrating
  3. clarifying
  4. demonstrating
  5. getting across
Verb
  • The Big Ten early Sunday morning released a statement and video footage explaining the call.
    — Austin Meek, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Restaurant owner Sachiyo Nakato Takahara places noodles, cabbage, onion and tofu into the sizzling, fragrant pot while explaining the significance of the meal, an intimate one typically enjoyed by close friends or family.
    — Nila Roper, AJC.com, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of explaining
Verb
  • On the walls outside the barracks are dozens of missing persons photos, illustrating the number of those still missing.
    — Sana Noor Haq, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Marc Ellinger, a prominent Missouri GOP attorney, and John Gore, a former Department of Justice official, intervened in the case on behalf of three Republican organizations, illustrating the national implications of Missouri’s map.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of illustrating
Verb
  • The Big Ten issued a statement two hours after the game, clarifying the process that was used and citing the rule that was enforced about when the clock stops if a player touches the ball out of bounds.
    — Michael Marot, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026
  • From there, use hair-care products to address other needs, like protecting your color or clarifying the scalp.
    — Elise Tabin, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of clarifying
Verb
  • Within 24 hours of launch, the team completed the commissioning of the payload, demonstrating how the optics system can support rapid action and decision-making in space operations.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
  • The 2026 midterm elections are also demonstrating how issues that begin as disputes between local governments and residents can spread across the country and become part of national political identities.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of demonstrating
Verb
  • For getting up the hill and getting across the flatter sections.
    — Outside Online, Outside Online, 7 Jan. 2026
  • The issue has been discussed within Congress for years and has received bipartisan support, but obstacles have repeatedly stopped the effort from getting across the finish line.
    — Jared Gans, The Hill, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of getting across

Browse Nearby Words

spelling
spelling out
spell out
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Cite this Entry

“Spelling out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spelling%20out. Accessed 10 Sep. 2026.

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