as in illuminating
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in filtering
to remove usually visible impurities from
clarify the melted butter by skimming off the milky bits
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable
it would help if you could clarify your position for us
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Recent Examples of clarifying
Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
As the Virgo Moon arrives November 13 to 15, things get even more introspective, but in the best, most clarifying way.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
It’s been very clarifying and really, for lack of a better word, helpful, in framing for us, really, and reminding us what, what this festival is, what is Mr. Redford’s legacy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
And that was a clarifying moment for me in my understanding of their relationship.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
Working at the Taller de Gráfica Popular allowed for a clarifying moment of vision, one that drove her work—politically and artistically—for the rest of her life.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
But this was a clarifying moment for me, as the photo’s release validated other information my source had been sharing in recent weeks.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024
These compositions have surprising emotional impact and a clarifying depth.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024
Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Money + Politics Crypto stocks climbed as the Senate Banking Committee advanced a bill clarifying regulatory oversight of the industry, a top legislative priority for the sector that had stalled for months.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Gallegos did not immediately respond to a question clarifying whether the $100 million would specifically be used toward victims of the Los Angeles wildfires last January.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Watching a small team spin up something functionally comparable in less than a week was, to put it mildly, clarifying.
—Zach Lloyd, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer sponsored this month’s clarifying bill, which didn’t make substantive changes to the ordinance but broke it into smaller, more understandable pieces.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
In January, the FCC published guidelines clarifying how the equal time rule is enforced.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
It’s supported by coconut oil, which is full of vitamin E and great for sealing in moisture, and clarifying apple cider vinegar, which has its own antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
At Judges’ Table itself, a winner isn’t immediately identified; instead, the judges ask the teams a few clarifying questions and share what takeout diners thought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Steps three and four explain when to switch between using clarifying shampoos, non-clarifying shampoos and medicated shampoos.
—Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
As the Virgo Moon arrives November 13 to 15, things get even more introspective, but in the best, most clarifying way.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025
It’s been very clarifying and really, for lack of a better word, helpful, in framing for us, really, and reminding us what, what this festival is, what is Mr. Redford’s legacy.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2025
And that was a clarifying moment for me in my understanding of their relationship.
—Max Gao, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025
Working at the Taller de Gráfica Popular allowed for a clarifying moment of vision, one that drove her work—politically and artistically—for the rest of her life.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
But this was a clarifying moment for me, as the photo’s release validated other information my source had been sharing in recent weeks.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 4 Sep. 2024
These compositions have surprising emotional impact and a clarifying depth.
—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024
Verb
Check the facts, ask one clarifying question, and let real information settle your nervous system.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 May 2026
Money + Politics Crypto stocks climbed as the Senate Banking Committee advanced a bill clarifying regulatory oversight of the industry, a top legislative priority for the sector that had stalled for months.
—Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Gallegos did not immediately respond to a question clarifying whether the $100 million would specifically be used toward victims of the Los Angeles wildfires last January.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Watching a small team spin up something functionally comparable in less than a week was, to put it mildly, clarifying.
—Zach Lloyd, Fortune, 13 May 2026
Councilwoman Amanda Sawyer sponsored this month’s clarifying bill, which didn’t make substantive changes to the ordinance but broke it into smaller, more understandable pieces.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
In January, the FCC published guidelines clarifying how the equal time rule is enforced.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 May 2026
It’s supported by coconut oil, which is full of vitamin E and great for sealing in moisture, and clarifying apple cider vinegar, which has its own antimicrobial and antifungal properties.
—Aimee Simeon, Glamour, 7 May 2026
At Judges’ Table itself, a winner isn’t immediately identified; instead, the judges ask the teams a few clarifying questions and share what takeout diners thought.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 28 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
For Jay Li, a Chinese national who arrived in the first, 2017 class after attending the University of Rochester and working for the NBA in New York, a sojourn to Suzhou in Eastern China near Shanghai was especially illuminating.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
After all, this month energizes your fifth house of creativity, romance and self-expression in a way that feels both exciting and illuminating.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
The finding helps explain how the brains of people with typical hearing are able to solve the cocktail party problem by selecting one voice to amplify while filtering out others.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
14 May 2026
-
After Wednesday's high of 91 at DFW, highs are expected around 92 Thursday afternoon, with partly to mostly sunny skies and more high clouds filtering in compared to Wednesday.—
Nelly Carreño,
CBS News,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Rock and dance music defenders alike have reached for their pitchforks, but Charli isn’t interested in debating or explaining the song to them.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
13 May 2026
-
The dramatic trailer opens with Ty introducing himself in a TikTok video and explaining why he was barricaded in his room.—
Janelle Griffith,
PEOPLE,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
His work blends data-visualization with explanatory graphics and motion graphics, covering everything from breaking news to politics to sports.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
The San Francisco Chronicle received the award for explanatory reporting, which means work that makes a complex topic comprehensible to everyday readers and viewers.—
Jennifer Peltz,
Twin Cities,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Joaquin Trinanes, a NOAA researcher who helped develop the inundation tool, said scientists are continually refining the models.—
Ashley Miznazi,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
-
This involved firing the spacecraft’s thrusters for 12 hours, increasing Psyche's speed, and refining its approach to the Red Planet.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Fox News Digital reporting captures this tense cultural moment, illustrating the mixed public sentiment and skepticism surrounding AI's growing footprint in daily life.—
Staff,
FOXNews.com,
14 May 2026
-
The shot of the car hurtling off the cliff is one of cinema’s most enduring images, illustrating unbreakable friendship, victory and freedom.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
The second part focuses on extracting everything from the vault without triggering a full security response.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
Time,
15 May 2026
-
Tracks may start with classy piano, but subtlety is almost never the end product; the group wields sidechains like a bandolier, extracting the maximum possible velocity in every kick while retaining the gooey melodic centre.—
Nathan Evans,
Pitchfork,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
According to Bette, the current cycle is demonstrating a similar pattern where demand is deferred rather than destroyed.—
Connie Etemadi,
USA Today,
13 May 2026
-
Over the years, the awards have at once become a snapshot of the most important reporting on the free press while also demonstrating that press’ power; the country’s top journalism institutions are among those typically feted.—
THR Staff,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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