Synonym Chooser

How is the word understand distinct from other similar verbs?

The words appreciate and comprehend are common synonyms of understand. While all three words mean "to have a clear or complete idea of," understand and comprehend are very often interchangeable, with understand sometimes stressing the fact of having attained a firm mental grasp of something.

orders that were fully understood and promptly obeyed

When is it sensible to use appreciate instead of understand?

The synonyms appreciate and understand are sometimes interchangeable, but appreciate implies a just evaluation or judgment of a thing's value or nature.

failed to appreciate the risks involved

Where would comprehend be a reasonable alternative to understand?

Although the words comprehend and understand have much in common, comprehend may stress the process of coming to grips with something intellectually.

I have trouble comprehending your reasons for doing this

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 understand And also, just understanding [Annie and Smoke’s] love, the depth of their love. Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 24 Apr. 2025 Consider making trade-offs Part of being a financially savvy adult is understanding that money management often comes with difficult trade-offs. Kamaron McNair, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025 Trump administration takes aim at climate change The Trump administration is continuing to pursue its pledge to prioritize American energy independence and scale back the federal government's plans to understand and prevent climate change. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025 Long train trips were designed for those who understand the old adage of appreciating the journey, not just the destination. Ellen Carpenter, AFAR Media, 24 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for understand
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understand
Verb
  • With a nod to Indigenous science, Sweat says principles of holistic and ancient Ayurvedic medicine, which originated in India and is also practiced in many Latin American countries, will be utilized in teaching, including the use of products mainly derived from plants.
    Stephanie Stephens, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025
  • Cannabis, derived from the Cannabis sativa plant, is used both recreationally and medicinally.
    Tribune Content Agency, Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Martha Stewart previously slammed former friend Ina Garten The lifestyle maven is known to cook up beef with fellow lifestyle brand competitors, including taking aim at former friend Ina Garten in September.
    Jay Stahl, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Unfortunately, Seong-je knows no loyalty, and agrees to beat up Si-eun for Baek-jin on the morning of the fight.
    Kayti Burt, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The law is in place due to traffic signal sensors not always recognizing motorcycles.
    Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 21 Apr. 2025
  • The church officially recognizes St. Peter, the first pope, as the longest-serving, with at least 34 years.
    Christopher Watson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The courts have issued several orders that the Trump administration has ignored, and the courts must decide what to do about it.
    Ross Rosenfeld, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025
  • However Republicans decide to handle them, legislative experts say that’s where their attention will be focused.
    Aris Folley, The Hill, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Coming back, suddenly, as a stadium act is hard to comprehend for the Ragweed frontman.
    Josh Crutchmer, Rolling Stone, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Utilize process intelligence to bridge the gap between employees and machine workflows, leveraging AI to capture and comprehend data.
    Adam Bujak, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The generous release of Tahoe 100M is a potential turning point for deciphering cancer vulnerabilities at scale and can trigger an open-source data sharing momentum in cancer research.
    Amelia Palermo, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • The Dallas Cowboys are one of those teams deciphering between the talents in the final stack of players, as owner and general manager Jerry Jones said on Tuesday that this is the latest that the team has ever gone without having their board in place.
    Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The workshop acknowledges that people usually think of consent and boundaries in extreme terms.
    William Jones, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The Browns must think otherwise to be taking him with a top 100 pick, but this one is hard to explain.
    Zac Jackson, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • While urbanites gaze at Jaffe’s monumental canvas, naturalists may appreciate Reyes with Leon Tovar Gallery (Stand 366).
    Natasha Gural, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Those individual developments are characteristic of a group that appreciates feedback.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Understand.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understand. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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