clear 1 of 3

adjective

ˈklir How to pronounce clear (audio)
Definition of clearnext
1
as in obvious
not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation the meaning of her broad smile was clear to the whole class

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2
as in transparent
easily seen through the clear glass walls of the aquarium's giant ocean tank

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3
as in certain
having or showing a mind free from doubt I need to be absolutely clear about what you're saying

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4
as in sunny
not stormy or cloudy novice pilots can only fly on clear days

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5
as in conclusive
serving to put an end to all debate or questioning the evidence is clear: he's innocent

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6
as in unobstructed
allowing passage without obstruction flooding was widespread, and only some roads are clear so far

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7
as in innocent
free from guilt or blame slept with a clear conscience

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8
as in shining
giving off or reflecting much light spermaceti candles were once highly prized for the clear flame that they produced

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clear

2 of 3

verb

1
as in to rid
to set (a person or thing) free of something that encumbers cleared the woods of brush

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2
as in to empty
to remove the contents of cleared a drawer so there would be a place to store his clothes

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3
as in to open
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way the early settlers worked hard to clear the land for crops

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4
as in to clarify
to remove usually visible impurities from cleared the car windows

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5
as in to free
to set free from entanglement or difficulty cleared himself of any involvement in the matter

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6
as in to smooth
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions plows promptly cleared the roads of snow

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7
as in to acquit
to free from a charge of wrongdoing she had once been accused of embezzlement, but an investigation by the bank cleared her

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8
as in to approve
to give official acceptance of as satisfactory the administration cleared the plan, and building should begin shortly

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9
as in to remove
to take away from a place or position cleared the dishes from the table

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10
as in to inform
to give information to please clear my mind about the new arrangement regarding reimbursement for traveling expenses

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11
as in to earn
to receive after charges and deductions have been made cleared enough from that stock transaction to be able to afford a new luxury automobile

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12
as in to pay
to give what is owed for finally cleared the last debt

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clear

3 of 3

adverb

as in through

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clear contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of clear are limpid, translucent, and transparent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When could limpid be used to replace clear?

Although the words limpid and clear have much in common, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

When can translucent be used instead of clear?

The synonyms translucent and clear are sometimes interchangeable, but translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

When would transparent be a good substitute for clear?

While the synonyms transparent and clear are close in meaning, transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

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 clear
Adjective
Its rugged, military-grade design supports continuous operation in often extreme environments while providing clear, real-time imagery that helps crews maintain awareness and respond effectively in a constantly changing environment. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026 The words on the left side, though, might only be clear when your left eye is open, and with the same true for the right side and the right eye. — Abigail Witmer, The Conversation, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
The pedestrian incident had cleared over an hour before that. — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 30 Aug. 2026 Southbound lanes of Interstate 65 near Lebanon Junction in Bullitt County remain closed while officials work to clear wreckage from the roadway. — Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 30 Aug. 2026
Adverb
Forest degradation, driven by wildfires, logging and drought, affects about 40% of the Amazon and has outpaced clear-cutting in recent years. — Gabriela Sa Pessoa, Fortune, 12 June 2026 In the past, doctors steered clear of transplanting organs for people with HIV. — Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clear
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clear
  1. obvious
  2. transparent
  3. confident
  4. sunny
  5. conclusive
  6. cleared
  7. innocent
  8. shining
Adjective
  • The comparisons between the start of Ray Allen’s and Klay Thompson’s Miami Heat stories seem obvious.
    — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Yet with no obvious signs of trauma, the researchers couldn’t say what sent the woman to an early grave.
    — Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • Wonder also has a transparent compensation system so employees can see what others at the company make.
    — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Moreover, perovskites are lightweight and can be engineered to be semi-transparent, enabling Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV).
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of transparent
Adjective
  • Other than that, he’s never seemed confident that the future will turn out all right, although he’s kept on working out his worries onscreen, forever hunting for flakes of hope in the rubble.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Coyote first hoodwinks and then forces Kevin into his lawsuit plans, taking Acme to task in a way the corporation, confident in its imperviousness, finds laughable.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • In recent years, the Golden State has become a major hub for millennial homebuyers seeking sunny weather, career opportunities and a higher quality of life.
    — Gagandeep Singh, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • To attract them to your garden, Biggs recommends avoiding pesticides and building fishless ponds and sunny areas with perches.
    — Olga R. Rodriguez, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sunny
Adjective
  • Metagenomic testing on blood samples, which is also becoming more common, is not always conclusive; localized infections don’t always reach the bloodstream.
    — Jason Liebowitz, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Officials concluded that the video did not offer conclusive proof that a person fell off the ship.
    — Curran Rastogi, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of conclusive
Adjective
  • Not all pads are alike, but a footprint on the larger side involves five to ten acres of cleared, packed ground that serves as the hub for drilling equipment, which can include wellheads, pump jacks, tanks, wastewater storage pits, trailers, and flare stacks.
    — Alex Heard, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
  • What counts as a cleared sidewalk?
    — Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 1 Dec. 2025
Definition of cleared
Adjective
  • Other officers helped the innocent driver walk to a nearby gas station.
    — Matthew Rodriguez, CBS News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The charges are allegations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.
    — ByTony Atkins, ABC News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of innocent
Adjective
  • At a time of so much partisanship in Congress, especially related to health care, breakthrough legislation is a shining example of how commonsense policies that support patient care and innovation can achieve broad support.
    — Josh Makower, STAT, 16 Mar. 2026
  • Those memories will remain some of the most shining and unforgettable moments of my life.
    — Jeff Benjamin, Forbes.com, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of shining

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Cite this Entry

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

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