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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 Americans have lost trust in their leaders, and Trump’s public foreign policy, whatever its flaws, is an unprecedented, transparent show of the real, chaotic, impulsive workings of power. Ben Smith, semafor.com, 5 June 2025 Kylie Jenner is getting transparent about the plastic surgery she's done. Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 3 June 2025 Even among those that are transparent, some have records that are very disorganized, whereas others have very organized and understandable records. Tom Clark, Chicago Tribune, 3 June 2025 In Minneapolis, for instance, attorney Dean Thomson sued the city a couple of years ago to force local violence intervention groups to be more transparent. Martin Kaste, NPR, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for transparent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for transparent
Adjective
  • The glasses are each pulled from one piece of crystal glass for an elegant, minimalist structure.
    Maria Conti, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 June 2025
  • The executive has also worked for LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton label Berluti and Hermès International’s crystal glasswear brand Saint-Louis.
    Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 6 May 2025
Adjective
  • The condition of the two others was not immediately clear.
    Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2025
  • But while the flood of content grows, one clear trend emerges: People trust people more than faceless organizations.
    Luca Brinkhues, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Johnson paired the look with sheer black tights, giving the ensemble a unified tonal element overall.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 3 June 2025
  • The sheer emotional momentum of being part of something—a sea of people unified by purpose—dissipates into the static of daily life.
    Adam Met, Time, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Now, however, Trump holds roughly $900 million of liquid assets, about half of which come from crypto ventures.
    Dan Alexander, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025
  • While a liquid carton is a race to use up before the expiration date, buttermilk powder is more forgiving.
    Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lionsgate post-Starz spin-off would be the most obvious choice, without the weight of cable networks on both sides and with a host of still-viable Lionsgate franchises including John Wick, The Hunger Games and Saw.
    Howard Homonoff, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Sending in the National Guard was an obvious military flex, designed to to bait Angelenos while perhaps distracting Americans from Trump’s far greater troubles.
    Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
Adjective
  • Celebs like Hailey Bieber and Anne Hathaway have cosigned on the barely-there nail trend, with Bieber even taking it down to her toes with a totally translucent, fresh summer pedicure.
    Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 3 June 2025
  • The look is finished off with a translucent rubber outsole.
    Riley Jones, Footwear News, 1 June 2025
Adjective
  • All that aside, even without the system transfer, using my Switch 2 has been smooth and straightforward.
    Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • The House previously approved a budget bill that contained a fairly straightforward provision to ban state AI regulation for 10 years.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 6 June 2025
Adjective
  • When asked where Jean lived, Joseph gave an address that police later identified as Roseau’s, an apparent building on Snyder Ave.
    Roni Jacobson, New York Daily News, 15 June 2025
  • This is bad enough, but what really concerns me is the apparent inability of the president and those advising him to consider the secondary or tertiary consequences of their decisions.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Transparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transparent. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on transparent

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