translucent

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective translucent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of translucent are clear, limpid, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would clear be a good substitute for translucent?

The meanings of clear and translucent largely overlap; however, clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When might limpid be a better fit than translucent?

In some situations, the words limpid and translucent are roughly equivalent. However, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When is it sensible to use transparent instead of translucent?

The synonyms transparent and translucent are sometimes interchangeable, but transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

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 translucent Were his character more precisely defined, Battle’s wail of feeling might carry you past the awkwardness of the songwriting, the nagging questions about what’s meant to be translucent or not, but here both character and emotion are indistinct. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025 This bird carried not only the usual seagrass but also a strand of red grape algae, which glowed like translucent jewels. Cecilia Rodriguez, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025 Add the onion and saute until translucent. Jess Fleming, Twin Cities, 18 Sep. 2025 New & Noteworthy Discover Serum Le Duo, a breakthrough 2-in-1 formula that combines a nourishing translucent serum with a milky, pearly serum to target 10 signs of aging. Adam Mills, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for translucent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for translucent
Adjective
  • Plus, pioneering inserts like the Nemo window, a transparent area below the waterline where guests can watch marine life flicker past the hull.
    Tristan Rutherford, Robb Report, 26 Sep. 2025
  • As part of the agreement, Amazon will make its subscription and cancellation processes more transparent.
    Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Cayman Cookout’s beloved After Glow shifts its focus this year from Champagne to cocktails, transforming the Harbour Pool bar into a lively showcase of liquid creativity by the event’s award-winning, headlining mixologists.
    Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Silica is the main ingredient in glass, which can exist in liquid form and be shaped freely.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The two areas are linked in delightfully indulgent ways, including a darkly glamorous corridor swagged with flower chandeliers and a giant eye behind the bar, with crystal eyelashes.
    Sarah Turner, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Even the transition between floors is theatrical, with a crystal elevator that offers shifting vistas of the bay.
    Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Translucent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/translucent. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

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