1
as in identifying
to find out or establish the identity of
pinpointed the culprit by tracking calls from his cell phone
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in aiming
to point or turn (something) toward a target or goal
publishers like to be able to pinpoint publicity efforts where they will have the most effect
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of pinpointing
Paying attention to leaf discoloration, pinpointing the problem, and taking rapid action can help restore your ficus to a flourishing state.
—
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Unless a slang term emerges from a popular movie, pinpointing an exact date of birth is difficult (hence the question marks on the tombstone).
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
But the method could prove essential for pinpointing hazardous debris on the ground to aid recovery and remediation efforts.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
That same month, the business also plans to work with other organizations in funding Blue Star Families’ release of Military Spouse Employment Research with the aim of pinpointing actionable solutions to their raging unemployment.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
Aquaria, season 10 winner, echoes Velour’s thoughts, pinpointing a change in runway standards around 2017-2018.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Now, astronomers have for the first time confirmed the existence of one of these starless worlds by pinpointing its distance and mass — a rogue planet roughly the size of Saturn nearly 10,000 light-years from Earth.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Academic research papers can also be a source of detailed test methods for pinpointing a specific metric or mimicking certain outdoor conditions.
—Adam Trenkamp, Outside, 27 Dec. 2025
And doctors began pinpointing the midlife hormonal transition period as a key time for health optimization in books such as The New Menopause and How to Menopause.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 22 Dec. 2025
Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Unless a slang term emerges from a popular movie, pinpointing an exact date of birth is difficult (hence the question marks on the tombstone).
—Michael Tedder, The Atlantic, 25 Jan. 2026
But the method could prove essential for pinpointing hazardous debris on the ground to aid recovery and remediation efforts.
—Lee Billings, Scientific American, 21 Jan. 2026
That same month, the business also plans to work with other organizations in funding Blue Star Families’ release of Military Spouse Employment Research with the aim of pinpointing actionable solutions to their raging unemployment.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 19 Jan. 2026
Aquaria, season 10 winner, echoes Velour’s thoughts, pinpointing a change in runway standards around 2017-2018.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 3 Jan. 2026
Now, astronomers have for the first time confirmed the existence of one of these starless worlds by pinpointing its distance and mass — a rogue planet roughly the size of Saturn nearly 10,000 light-years from Earth.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 2 Jan. 2026
Academic research papers can also be a source of detailed test methods for pinpointing a specific metric or mimicking certain outdoor conditions.
—Adam Trenkamp, Outside, 27 Dec. 2025
And doctors began pinpointing the midlife hormonal transition period as a key time for health optimization in books such as The New Menopause and How to Menopause.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 22 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pinpointing
Verb
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The announcement by Mohsin Naqvi came a day after a regional affiliate of the Islamic State group, identifying itself as Islamic State in Pakistan, claimed responsibility in a statement carried by its Amaq News Agency.—
MUNIR AHMED,
Arkansas Online,
8 Feb. 2026
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The mistake people outside the fungi community or beginners make when identifying mushrooms is solely relying on social media, a field guide or an app like iNaturalist, said Bob Cummings, a leading mycology expert in Santa Barbara.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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At a program unaccustomed to recent success, which has two winning seasons in its 20 years as a Division I program, second-year Coach John Shulman has the Bears aiming higher that regular-season accolades.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The Hoosier Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The grim news out of Tucson is that, thirteen days into the search for Nancy Guthrie, the odds of finding her alive have been dropping by the hour.—
Paige Williams,
New Yorker,
14 Feb. 2026
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The impact is expected to hit the bottom of the employment pyramid hardest, with research finding big drops in hiring among 22- to 25-year-olds in tech and customer service, The Economist reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But if work, school, doctor's appointments, or other responsibilities prevent one from casting a ballot that day, early voting is an alternative.—
Lauren Victory,
CBS News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Only then did the chemistry of the casting start to surface as the four Monkees came together on the set.—
Peter Larsen,
Daily News,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pinpointing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pinpointing. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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