clarifying 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of clarifyingnext
as in illuminating

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clarifying

2 of 2

verb

present participle of clarify
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clarifying
Adjective
Some of the most clarifying conversations about where work is headed come from people who are just entering it. — Lindsey Garito, Forbes.com, 21 May 2026 As the Virgo Moon arrives November 13 to 15, things get even more introspective, but in the best, most clarifying way. — Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 9 Nov. 2025 And that was a clarifying moment for me in my understanding of their relationship. — Max Gao, Variety, 29 Aug. 2025 These compositions have surprising emotional impact and a clarifying depth. — Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 May 2024
Verb
Ask a clarifying question, keep your response simple, and save the deeper processing for a space that actually feels safe. — Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 David Krumholtz is clarifying his comments on stepping back from acting. — Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Aug. 2026 The city also installed new signs in parks clarifying the changes. — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 Organizations achieving meaningful value are redesigning workflows, establishing governance frameworks, investing in workforce readiness and clarifying accountability alongside technology deployment. — Jayasri Ranganathan, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 As a policy tool, that commitment provides clarifying focus and a way to determine when to stop an operation. — Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 6 Aug. 2026 The top houses the filter basket cover, a water outlet, a compartment that holds the clarifying agent, and the onboard control panel. — John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026 Confronted with this, Roth issued a statement to Polygon clarifying his original remarks in the interview. — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 5 Aug. 2026 Check the route, reread the message, or ask the clarifying question. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clarifying
  1. illuminating
  2. filtering
  3. explaining
  4. explanatory
  5. refining
  6. illustrating
  7. revealing
  8. extracting
Adjective
  • Dry skin types, on the other hand, tend to achieve better results with illuminating formulas that contain hydrating ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, ceramides, and squalane.
    — Jenny Berg, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026
  • To rise above the noise, our staff will continue to use their expertise to serve up only the most interesting and illuminating ideas.
    — Jeanna Bryner, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of illuminating
Verb
  • As returns began filtering in from the western part of the district, which Reagan was winning handily, the ballot trend also was toward other Republican candidates.
    — Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Conventional sewage treatment is capable of filtering up to 99% of microfibers and other microplastics flushed from homes and businesses, other studies have found.
    — Michael Hawthorne, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of filtering
Verb
  • Before explaining what the technology can do, understand what the customer is trying to accomplish.
    — William Arruda, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In the Situational Awareness fund move, Griffin sent investors a letter explaining Citadel’s stock actions with the AI company.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of explaining
Adjective
  • And now, in perhaps the most ridiculous and explanatory example of the league's fandom, has seen her name banned from the WNBA subreddit.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • The mods think Reddit might have designated the website—and thus any post using its content for explanatory illustrations—as spam.
    — Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of explanatory
Verb
  • Before Broadway, Parton was hard at work, producers said, refining the musical after its out-of-town tryout in order to give audiences a deeper look at her life than ever before.
    — Hedy Phillips, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Voit’s emphasis this season has been on refining his eye at the plate, on understanding the difference between looking for a pitch and looking for his pitch.
    — Tim Britton, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of refining
Verb
  • But Wright’s case is also illustrating why the NCAA’s argument about amateurism is becoming harder to square with the economics of the modern college engine.
    — Joshua Hong, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026
  • In recent years, Unite Here Local 11 has filed numerous complaints over the Inglewood facility, claiming various wage and health issues, illustrating a bitter battle over movement at the bargaining table.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of illustrating
Adjective
  • Three questions are worth putting to an HR lead directly, because the answers are more revealing than the brochure.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps most revealing among the disclosures, however, is that Shein spends considerably more on moving and selling products than on making them.
    — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of revealing
Verb
  • Against that backdrop, Pina’s speech asserted the platform should be regarded as a partner to television, rather than a tech giant extracting audiences and value from it.
    — Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Lynn was reluctant to take credit for extracting the performance from Curry.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of extracting

Browse Nearby Words

clarify
clarifying
clarinetist
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Cite this Entry

“Clarifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clarifying. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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