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as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence
it was either write the Great American Novel or be consigned to the status of a cipher in the annals of literature
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to figure
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations
were surprised by how much we had spent on the cruise after we had ciphered out the grand total
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cipher
Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
We are used to viewing video-game protagonists as tireless ciphers.
—Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Stephen Nash, New York Times, 25 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for cipher
Noun
Whereas Elliot remains something of a cipher, a manchild whose amply displayed abs have more definition than his character.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 3 July 2025
We are used to viewing video-game protagonists as tireless ciphers.
—Simon Parkin, The Atlantic, 23 June 2025
Verb
These remnants, signals from an earlier phase of our human condition, have been endlessly ciphered by generations of archaeologists in the Bears Ears region (which is named for twin buttes near its center).
—Stephen Nash, New York Times, 25 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for cipher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cipher
Noun
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My memoir was built of gaps, juxtaposition, weird little nothings.—
Cheri Lucas Rowlands,
Longreads,
16 Dec. 2024
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The one whose legs turned nothings into somethings, improvising the Lions’ entire defensive game plan into a pile of ash?—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
10 Feb. 2024
Noun
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None of these nobodies is performing like Grimes just yet, and until someone does Grier better get active trying to find a handful of veteran cornerbacks whom this team can call on, and sign to patch up the weakest unit on the team.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
30 May 2025
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And maybe that’s a metaphor for the way a lot of middle-class nobodies feel.—
Abigail Lee,
Variety,
13 May 2025
Verb
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Jordan Roa and Terrell Baptiste, a transfer from Massachusetts, figure to get most snaps at quarterback.—
John Maffei,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 July 2025
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It wasn’t written into law, but the markets figured Uncle Sam would come to the rescue if there were trouble.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Technical Challenges Processing qubits—the compute units of quantum computers—that exist in thousands of states simultaneously (unlike the binary ones and zeros of classical computing) involves some seriously bleeding-edge technology.—
Bernard Marr,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Having Kershaw back and posting zeroes will certainly help Los Angeles stay afloat in a juggernaut division.—
Katie Woo,
New York Times,
9 June 2025
Noun
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Tell me a little bit about the technical side of filming a dwarf and an elf together.—
Devan Coggan,
EW.com,
13 Oct. 2022
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Other new characters include Disa, the first female dwarf ever shown in the Lord of the Rings series.—
Ethan Millman,
Rolling Stone,
22 July 2022
Verb
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These have included, in recent years, NASA, whose OSIRIS-REx mission (2016-23) collected samples from the Bennu asteroid, which measures a third of a mile across and has been calculated to have a not infinitesimal chance of colliding with Earth in the twenty-second century.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
28 July 2025
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The track’s owners and construction executives calculated what could be built in time for the Aug. 25 race: Temporary bleachers and red and white tents would replace the Post and Paddock Club.—
Ron Grossman,
Chicago Tribune,
27 July 2025
Noun
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At 87 percent merino wool (blended with nylon), these are also very durable while remaining lightweight (10.3 ounces for a men's large).—
Scott Gilbertson,
Wired News,
5 July 2025
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Not only is the Switchback crazy lightweight, it's purposely designed to be as compact and low-riding as possible.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
3 July 2025
Verb
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Our collective gaze is often captivated by the promise of ever more sophisticated technology, computing power, political absurdity and financial might.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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This surge comes as data centers are drawn to Arizona's favorable operating costs and infrastructure, coupled with increasing demand for computing services.—
Sasha Hupka,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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