understanding 1 of 3

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as in appreciation
the knowledge gained from the process of coming to know or understand something a social observer with a deep understanding of the problems that the nation's cities face in the 21st century

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

understanding

2 of 3

adjective

understanding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of understand
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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 understanding
Noun
The dean of the College of Cardinals, Giovanni Battista Re, prayed that the 133 cardinals find wisdom, good counsel and understanding before entering the Sistine Chapel to begin making their choices for the next pope. Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 7 May 2025 This research is a first step toward understanding whether the GLP-1 drugs have a different effect than other type 2 diabetes medications, said first author Dinah Foer, MD, an allergist and immunologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and assistant professor at Harvard Medical School. Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 7 May 2025
Adjective
But despite the nightmare scenario, the couple said their fellow passengers were incredibly understanding. Russel Honoré, Newsweek, 5 Mar. 2025 But her mom says her school has been very understanding. Jordan Greene, People.com, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for understanding
Recent Examples of Synonyms for understanding
Noun
  • Also, Saudi Arabia’s pursuit of a nuclear agreement is likely to play into the bargaining on regional security issues involving the U.S., Iran and Israel.
    Boston Herald Wire Services, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
  • The good news for borrowers, however, is that the AFT and the department reached an agreement in the AFT’s legal challenge for the department to provide concrete updates, in publicly available status reports filed with the court, on loan servicers’ progress in processing IDR applications.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025
Noun
  • One is an artistic mastermind with striking vampiric looks who has used his intimate appreciation of avant-garde composers like Karlheinz Stockhausen to elevate a popular art form to the realm of greatness—and the other fronts a band called the Bad Seeds.
    Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 12 May 2025
  • Managing assets for routine distributions emphasizes an area less critical for long-term investors only seeking capital appreciation with indefinite holding periods: income.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • For 55 years, the characters of Sesame Street have taught us how to count, how to read — and as importantly, how to be kind, empathic and compassionate.
    Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
  • Here’s to more humane, efficient and compassionate processes in the future crafted by politicians on both sides of the aisle.
    DP Opinion, Denver Post, 12 May 2025
Noun
  • The pact comes as America's access to rare earth minerals, which are key to manufacturing high-tech products like computer chips and military equipment, has diminished after China last month announced export restrictions on some of these minerals in retaliation for U.S. tariffs.
    Alain Sherter, CBS News, 2 May 2025
  • Liles attached a copy of the previously confidential settlement to a new legal filing this week, arguing that the 20-year-old pact barred Doe from suing both him and UMG last February.
    Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
Noun
  • The possibility of an appeal to the Fifth Circuit has driven the perception that Texas courtrooms might offer Mr. Trump the best chance to win rulings that would allow his administration’s plan to scale up mass deportations to move forward.
    Mattathias Schwartz, New York Times, 2 May 2025
  • Through extensive investigation, Aaronson uncovers how the FBI’s narrative shaped public perception and obscured its own failures, leading to critical questions about institutional accountability and the politicization of memory.
    Glenn Garner, Deadline, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • Chu—who also signed the letter and whose own appearance at the Y was cancelled amid mass resignations provoked by the Nguyen incident—is sympathetic to Nguyen, and moved by the bravery of the employees who resigned in protest.
    S. C. Cornell, New Yorker, 2 May 2025
  • Last week, in Mahmoud v. Taylor, most of the justices sounded extremely sympathetic to religious parents who objected to books being taught in public schools that have LGBTQ characters.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • With so many cruise lines and many more ships, deciding which cruise to book for your family’s next vacation can feel daunting.
    Stacey Lastoe, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2025
  • There are several considerations when deciding where to live and retire.
    Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Geek out at the All Monsters Attack convention, where Japanese kaiju and all species of sci-fi fantasy creatures will be feted.
    Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2025
  • The divide could reemerge at the state Democratic Party convention in Anaheim later this month.
    Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Understanding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/understanding. Accessed 20 May. 2025.

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