1
as in understanding
to have a clear idea of
the age at which children can comprehend the difference between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in knowing
to have a practical understanding of
it took me a while to comprehend algebra
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in including
to have as part of a whole
our notion of morality should comprehend much more than proper sexual behavior
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of comprehending
Hard sci-fi, meanwhile, leans into the fact that life evolving on other planets, under different conditions, and across different stretches of time will almost certainly take on forms so different from ours that comprehending them would be like imagining a new color.
—
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
And then just comprehending the infrastructure required, again, just for the eggs, let alone all the other things required.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 230,000 Coloradans have difficulty comprehending and communicating in English.
—Micki Olson, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
The way humanity finally got to the level of ChatGPT was not by comprehending intelligence well enough to craft an intelligent mind.
—Nate Soares, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Understanding what the Padres’ bullpen is absorbing begins with comprehending just how good it’s been.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Tim Brinkhof, Big Think, 24 Mar. 2026
As for whether comprehending the wiring of the brain really demands techniques from the frontiers of theoretical physics, questions remain.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 13 Jan. 2026
And only by comprehending the Star Eaters will Ro also comprehend his part in their potential destruction.
—Literary Hub, 2 Jan. 2026
And then just comprehending the infrastructure required, again, just for the eggs, let alone all the other things required.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025
Heavener said her young students have a hard time comprehending what is going on.
—Natasha Korecki, NBC news, 14 Oct. 2025
According to the Migration Policy Institute, more than 230,000 Coloradans have difficulty comprehending and communicating in English.
—Micki Olson, The Conversation, 16 Sep. 2025
The way humanity finally got to the level of ChatGPT was not by comprehending intelligence well enough to craft an intelligent mind.
—Nate Soares, The Atlantic, 15 Sep. 2025
Understanding what the Padres’ bullpen is absorbing begins with comprehending just how good it’s been.
—Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comprehending
Verb
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Maybe a computer was a new tool for understanding poetry.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
The week-long experience focuses on strength training to increase muscle mass; the importance of nutrition (especially protein); and understanding the long-term effects and impacts of weight loss medications.—
Judy Koutsky,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Marcus tries to balance pushing Nick to keep playing while knowing his older brother has to do what’s best for him and his family.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
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Just worth knowing that the toilet facilities are going to be challenging to some.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 May 2026
Verb
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Glossip has received public support both nationally and internationally, including from celebrities like Kim Kardashian.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
The content surrounding the campaign has drawn praise from a handful of celebrities, including reality star/entrepreneur Paris Hilton, actor Taylor Lautner and celebrity gossip blogger Perez Hilton.—
Angela Yang,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
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Currently, judges in California courts are responsible for deciphering the nuances of California’s Invasion of Privacy law.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026
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The study creates new criteria for deciphering old dice and allows archaeologists to further explore how games have evolved over time, researchers say.—
Taylor Nicioli,
CNN Money,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Work sits in the backlog because no single team has the authority to finish it without involving three others.—
Steve Taplin,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
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Last week, Latvia’s government collapsed following an argument over the handling of multiple incidents involving stray drones suspected to be from Ukraine.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 May 2026
Verb
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The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette will run daily articles recognizing 50 notable figures in Arkansas history to coincide with America250, the national commemoration of the country's 250th anniversary.—
Grant Lancaster,
Arkansas Online,
18 May 2026
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More millennials are recognizing perimenopause in real time, reading about treatment options, looking at personalized plans, and finding solutions such as telehealth companies.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
18 May 2026
Verb
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Black Mountain also purchased a smaller portion of the land, encompassing just under 200 acres, from Advantage Opportunities LP, which is owned by Fralin Investments LP, which is owned by Robin Wallace and Jerry Patton.—
Tanya Babbar,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 May 2026
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California’s Board of Equalization is a small statewide team — comprised of four people elected to represent districts encompassing some 10 million constituents each, plus the state controller — supervising property taxes and the Alcoholic Beverage Tax and Tax on Insurers programs.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The third season of The Comeback has aired over only two months, but the season’s core adversarial relationship, between the grasping desperation of the creative community and the steady encroachment of AI, has only taken on an increasingly dominant role in Hollywood’s ongoing conversations.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
11 May 2026
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Unlike the thicker grasping fingers typical of primates, the aye-aye’s third digit is extraordinarily slender and highly flexible.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Comprehending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comprehending. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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