1
as in to feel
to have a vague awareness of
I thought I perceived a problem, but I wasn't sure
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
perceived that it was going to be a nice day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
I perceive your point, but I still disagree
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of perceive
In my experience, men often perceive women’s concerns about unequal household labor as a personal attack.
—
Jelena Kecmanovic, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
As for the trade deadline, the situation might have been unavoidable, if the Bucks simply never were going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at this stage and if the Heat perceived Ja Morant at this moment too much of a gamble.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Cities do that, advocates say, because officials fear encampments will be perceived as an eyesore for visitors.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Jelena Kecmanovic, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
As for the trade deadline, the situation might have been unavoidable, if the Bucks simply never were going to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo at this stage and if the Heat perceived Ja Morant at this moment too much of a gamble.
—Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026
Cities do that, advocates say, because officials fear encampments will be perceived as an eyesore for visitors.
—Grant Stringer, Mercury News, 6 Feb. 2026
Paranoia’s impulsiveness, fixation, and self consciousness are mirrored in romance as a desire to be perceived in a particular way by a specific audience, a curiosity to uncover something deeper and more vital, and the desire to disappear into a world safe from outside perceptions.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for perceive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for perceive
Verb
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Summertime night tours have recently been introduced, which aim to help visitors imagine how the city once felt after sunset.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
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The 30-second Super Bowl version manages to capture most of the ridiculousness of the lengthier, two-and-a-half-minute version directed by Spike Jonze, which feels as silly and committed as any of your favorite Stiller comedy moments.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Then Heard noticed a provision in a California law created in 2012 that allows juveniles sentenced to life without parole to petition for resentencing.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
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First responders noticed that the child seemed malnourished and had bruising on his body, police said.—
Clifford Ward,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The collar will help scientists understand the movement patterns and reproductive behavior of the Sierra Nevada red fox, providing key insights to guide conservation efforts.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
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Those many Americans who still understand that freedom is the magic elixir that drives growth and prosperity are exiting blue states, leaving them to stew in their left-wing, socialist, low-growth and low-opportunity juices.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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By embedding this sensing capability directly into a robot’s skin, this new system allows machines to respond locally and instantly to physical threats.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Feb. 2026
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Horses brought the firefighting apparatus and a big steed, aptly named Goliath, sensed the danger and ran out of the way, not before being injured.—
Jacques Kelly,
Baltimore Sun,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In one of several photos included in the 3 million new Epstein files, Mountbatten-Windsor is seen kneeling on all fours over an unidentified woman on the ground.—
James Powel,
USA Today,
12 Feb. 2026
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During the Super Bowl halftime show, the casita made an appearance again, and this time, the world would see its interior for the first time.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Bass, who was politically weakened by her performance during the fire and its aftermath, was already facing more than two dozen challengers looking to oust her in the June 2 primary — the vast majority little known to the public and not expected to pose any threat.—
David Zahniser,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
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One note e-mailed Monday to the KOLD-TV newsroom in Tucson included information that only the abductor would know, anchor Mary Coleman told CNN.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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These are the areas where, as Solodko explains, perishables interact, and smells can happen.—
Heather Bien,
The Spruce,
11 Feb. 2026
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Pine-Sol can get rid of tough stains and smells such as grease and unpleasant odors on athletic gear for clothing that seems good as new.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Underground cavities found on Venus Taking a fresh look at radar data collected by Magellan, a team of scientists were able to spot a large underground cavity on Venus created by lava flow.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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Eventually, the officers spotted Brown and his girlfriend walking away from the section to the main hallway.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Perceive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/perceive. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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