as in illuminating
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in filtering
to remove usually visible impurities from
clarify the melted butter by skimming off the milky bits
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in explaining
to make plain or understandable
it would help if you could clarify your position for us
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clarifying
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
The most clarifying political moment of the era came with the 1912 presidential election, when corporate concentration was explicitly on the ballot.
—Zephyr Teachout, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020
Kyle's clarifying questions ultimately yield a few non-clarifying answers.
—Jodi Walker, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2021
Hank Willis Thomas has meditated on the commercialization of Black stereotypes, in ways that are generally more clarifying than Colescott’s histrionic approach.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Tuesday against Brooklyn's collection of wings will provide a more clarifying test.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023
Biden administration officials say that the Russian invasion has been a clarifying moment for some of the bigger powers in Asia as financial sanctions and export bans have been put in place to check Russia.
—Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2022
Many of them, however, went to D.C. for two previous events, which were more clarifying.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2021
Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The bill would update several pieces of language in existing law, clarifying requirements such as metal bars on doors and windows, adding sufficient interior lighting and authorizing law enforcement to access dealers’ security systems during an active investigation.
—Tim Clouser | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Jan. 2025
Frequently Asked Questions Are clarifying shampoos good for curly hair?
—Erin Parker, Allure, 3 Jan. 2025
Ahead, find shampoos, conditioners, masks, and clarifying treatments to make your flaxen dreams come true.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 31 Dec. 2024
Share common experiences, express understanding, ask meaningful questions and allow your audience to ask clarifying questions.
—Terina Allen, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
But, those with virgin hair should proceed with caution because a clarifying shampoo can be too aggressive, Temur warns, potentially stripping the scalp's natural oils, causing dryness, frizz and breakage.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In addition to suggestions focused on simplifying and clarifying the process, including preclearance, the Section recommended the Service make the Streamlined Procedures permanent.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
To fix that, bills were introduced in the Senate and House judiciary committees this year clarifying the language, while also ensuring cases can be sped up by expanding eligibility to all district courts in the 4th Circuit Court jurisdiction instead of just the one federal court in North Carolina.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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
The most clarifying political moment of the era came with the 1912 presidential election, when corporate concentration was explicitly on the ballot.
—Zephyr Teachout, Foreign Affairs, 8 Dec. 2020
Kyle's clarifying questions ultimately yield a few non-clarifying answers.
—Jodi Walker, EW.com, 16 Sep. 2021
Hank Willis Thomas has meditated on the commercialization of Black stereotypes, in ways that are generally more clarifying than Colescott’s histrionic approach.
—Philip Kennicott, Washington Post, 18 Aug. 2022
Tuesday against Brooklyn's collection of wings will provide a more clarifying test.
—Michael Shapiro, Chron, 6 Mar. 2023
Biden administration officials say that the Russian invasion has been a clarifying moment for some of the bigger powers in Asia as financial sanctions and export bans have been put in place to check Russia.
—Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak, Chicago Tribune, 19 May 2022
Many of them, however, went to D.C. for two previous events, which were more clarifying.
—Luke Mogelson, The New Yorker, 15 Jan. 2021
Verb
This now four-game winless run has been clarifying for the progress of the Maresca project.
—Liam Twomey, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
The bill would update several pieces of language in existing law, clarifying requirements such as metal bars on doors and windows, adding sufficient interior lighting and authorizing law enforcement to access dealers’ security systems during an active investigation.
—Tim Clouser | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 4 Jan. 2025
Frequently Asked Questions Are clarifying shampoos good for curly hair?
—Erin Parker, Allure, 3 Jan. 2025
Ahead, find shampoos, conditioners, masks, and clarifying treatments to make your flaxen dreams come true.
—Jenny Berg, Allure, 31 Dec. 2024
Share common experiences, express understanding, ask meaningful questions and allow your audience to ask clarifying questions.
—Terina Allen, Forbes, 31 Dec. 2024
But, those with virgin hair should proceed with caution because a clarifying shampoo can be too aggressive, Temur warns, potentially stripping the scalp's natural oils, causing dryness, frizz and breakage.
—Celia Shatzman, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
In addition to suggestions focused on simplifying and clarifying the process, including preclearance, the Section recommended the Service make the Streamlined Procedures permanent.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 21 Dec. 2024
To fix that, bills were introduced in the Senate and House judiciary committees this year clarifying the language, while also ensuring cases can be sped up by expanding eligibility to all district courts in the 4th Circuit Court jurisdiction instead of just the one federal court in North Carolina.
—Brad Dress, The Hill, 20 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
Adjective
-
More illuminating—and alarming—are Loch’s responses to his brother.—
Judy Berman,
TIME,
17 Mar. 2025
-
The rare defeats also have been more illuminating than haunting.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The company has not issued a press release explaining the issue and an email was not immediately returned, Associated Press reported.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
24 Dec. 2024
-
The Dolphins still have a 12 percent chance of making the playoffs, but Calais Campbell was in the locker room Sunday explaining how he might be released to sign with a contender once the postseason elimination becomes official.—
Josh Kendall,
The Athletic,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The possible explanatory layers overwhelm, and so there’s an honesty to how the series opts to focus on the devastation instead, fading out on the image of the Miller family torn apart and Eddie breaking down on Jamie’s bed.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2025
-
Among the honors: Staff Writer Jack Harris placed in the top 10 for beat reporting for his work chronicling the Dodgers’ run to the 2024 World Series and in the top 10 in the explanatory category for an article examining the Dodgers’ role in MLB’s pitching injury epidemic.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Human teams can improve the reliability of specific knowledge agents by refining data sources and prompts.—
Michael Wegmüller,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
The end of the year is another critical period for refining your retirement strategy.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
On January 7, the National Sleep Foundation released data illustrating how crucial sleep is for work performance.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
There’s been more pushback to the expiration of several smaller districts Daley established around Midway Airport, illustrating why winding down TIFs can be tough for mayors to pull off politically.—
A.D. Quig,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Through technology and entrepreneurship, these organizations are demonstrating that collaboration is possible even in in the midst of war.—
Hessie Jones,
Forbes,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Similar goals could benefit other organizations by fostering trust, broadening reach and demonstrating a commitment to equity—key elements in building lasting community relationships.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Ryan Garcia sat down for a revealing interview with Ak and Barak of Ring Champs ahead of his return to boxing.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Few living filmmakers have a list of collaborators longer or stranger than Errol Morris: Donald Trump (in perhaps his single most revealing interview), Donald Rumsfeld, Steve Bannon, Stephen Hawking.—
Nick Newman,
IndieWire,
7 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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