Definition of transparentnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective transparent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of transparent are clear, limpid, and translucent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

When is it sensible to use clear instead of transparent?

The words clear and transparent can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When can limpid be used instead of transparent?

The words limpid and transparent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

Where would translucent be a reasonable alternative to transparent?

The meanings of translucent and transparent largely overlap; however, translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

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 transparent If elected, Ford wants to remain financially transparent for Lake County residents, especially after the county’s 2022 budget was found to be unauditable. Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026 After last year’s disastrous Eaton fire, Southern California Edison executives vowed to be transparent about what caused the inferno that killed at least 19 people and left thousands of families homeless in Altadena. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 26 Apr. 2026 However, the training side remains less transparent. Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 26 Apr. 2026 That would include public and transparent bargaining sessions. Olivia Young, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for transparent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transparent
Adjective
  • Designed by the label’s then creative director, Olivier Rousteing, the unorthodox gown was sculpted based on a cast of Tyla’s body, then created out of three different colors of sand mixed with micro-crystal studs, providing extra sparkle down to the tip of her mermaid train.
    Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026
  • My bridal shower will be taking place at a historic inn, on a crystal blue Finger Lake in Upstate New York, at the end of April.
    Alexandra Ditch, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • His condition was not immediately clear.
    Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 7 May 2026
  • Set one clear priority and start there.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 7 May 2026
Adjective
  • What strikes fear into the hearts of overseas rivals is the sheer scale of production in China, where automakers can rely on deep domestic supply chains and have automated their factories.
    Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
  • Every year, the level of talent and sheer ability seems more outrageous.
    Dan Stahl, New Yorker, 1 May 2026
Adjective
  • There’s even more of Kate Hudson’s Oscars makeup to uncover below, including a clear eyebrow gel that keeps your brows in place all day and a liquid contour that subtly sculpts your face.
    Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 3 May 2026
  • Thanks to a wise acquisition of Boyd Thermal, which closed in March, Eaton is now in the liquid cooling business.
    Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 3 May 2026
Adjective
  • Zevik Glidai, a 78-year-old math teacher and volunteer ambulance driver, discovered coils of the translucent fiber-optic cables surrounding a drone that crashed into his backyard in the northern Israeli city of Kiryat Shmona on April 13.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • Also on view are selections from the Macchia series, known for bold color combinations and ruffled edges, and the delicate Seaforms, which evoke underwater life through translucent layers of glass.
    Ginger Crichton, Midwest Living, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • As researchers discovered decades ago, magnetic strength can be greatly improved by adding to the crystalline lattice atoms with unpaired electrons in the 4f orbital—notably the rare earth elements neodymium, praseodymium, and dysprosium.
    Glenn Zorpette, IEEE Spectrum, 29 Apr. 2026
  • Some beaches are found next to crystalline lakes, while others are beneath the peaks of majestic mountain ranges.
    Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Transparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transparent. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

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