1
as in granting
to give the ownership or benefit of (something) formally or publicly
the British monarch continues to confer knighthood on those who are outstanding in their fields of endeavor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in consulting
to exchange viewpoints or seek advice for the purpose of finding a solution to a problem
my parents are going to confer with a financial adviser about saving for their retirement
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conferring
The pair are chaos agents who, in conferring the benefit of sudden wealth, lure the recipients into corruption.
—
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
In my view, by conferring this title on Summers, Harvard is signaling that powerful men can outlast gross misconduct with their honorifics intact.
—Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
At City Hall, before taking council members’ public comments, the committee went into executive session, conferring privately while a large crowd waited for members to address the billion-dollar question in open session.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The neighborhood/area Mount Etna’s dark mass looms over Zash and the surrounding area, conferring special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, and more exotic cacti and banana trees vie for space.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Sitting with Cucinelli is like conferring with a living history book.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Later, after conferring with the official, Izzo had clarification on Davis’ transgression.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Egypt has long been a permanent fixture of the tourism circuit, its pyramids and mummies conferring an indelible allure.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Pumping his fist and scribbling notes Mangione stayed active throughout the hearing, taking notes, reading documents, conferring with his lawyers and occasionally looking back toward his two-dozen or so supporters in the courtroom gallery.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 27 Mar. 2026
In my view, by conferring this title on Summers, Harvard is signaling that powerful men can outlast gross misconduct with their honorifics intact.
—Yana Van Der Meulen Rodgers, The Conversation, 27 Feb. 2026
At City Hall, before taking council members’ public comments, the committee went into executive session, conferring privately while a large crowd waited for members to address the billion-dollar question in open session.
—Dallas Morning News, 23 Feb. 2026
The neighborhood/area Mount Etna’s dark mass looms over Zash and the surrounding area, conferring special energy and fertile soil where olive groves, fruit trees, and more exotic cacti and banana trees vie for space.
—Rosalyn Wikeley, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Jan. 2026
Sitting with Cucinelli is like conferring with a living history book.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
Later, after conferring with the official, Izzo had clarification on Davis’ transgression.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 6 Jan. 2026
Egypt has long been a permanent fixture of the tourism circuit, its pyramids and mummies conferring an indelible allure.
—Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 21 Dec. 2025
Pumping his fist and scribbling notes Mangione stayed active throughout the hearing, taking notes, reading documents, conferring with his lawyers and occasionally looking back toward his two-dozen or so supporters in the courtroom gallery.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 18 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conferring
Verb
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The county issued a permanent custody order after a hearing in September 2021, granting McKnight sole legal and physical custody of the children.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Apr. 2026
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Because of the enormous stakes of granting an ESA exemption, there’s supposed to be an extremely high bar to clear it, such as active military operations in the Gulf being hurt by species protections, Parenteau said.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Bollati has also received personal recognition for his company’s sustainable business model, such as an award from consulting firm EY in 2024.—
Sandra Salibian,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
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Stath Lets Flats star Jamie Demetriou and British writer James Graham are also consulting, as Deadline revealed yesterday.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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State officials are also discussing possible rebate checks for taxpayers to help blunt high energy costs.—
Matthew Daly,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
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The complaint says Heifler spent weeks discussing the plot with the undercover law enforcement official, and at one point went to scope out Kiswani's home.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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But our cast from Hunting Wives happened to be at the party, and there was Ted talking to them and taking selfies.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Conferring.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conferring. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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