clouds 1 of 2

noun

plural of cloud
as in shadows
an overspreading element that produces an atmosphere of gloom all day we were under a cloud until we heard the good news

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clouds

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of cloud
1
as in obscures
to make dark, dim, or indistinct the diner's dark interior, clouded with smoke and grease

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confuses
to make (something) unclear to the understanding cloud the issue with obscure statistics

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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 clouds
Noun
El Niño events are a climate cycle characterized by hotter than average ocean temperatures in the central and eastern tropical Pacific, which transfer huge amounts of heat to the atmosphere via clouds and heavy precipitation. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026 The distant thunder was still faint, but its deep rumble drowned out the manic noise next door, like a great invisible hand reaching out beyond the clouds to crush the multifarious towns below. — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 The eruption started Monday morning, with clouds of gas and ash rising above the volcano as lava and pyroclastic flows rolled down the slopes. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 Temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-90s Tuesday, even as clouds from storms over the central Plains drift into the Kansas City area. — Kansas City Star, 4 Aug. 2026 Sovereign’s room has art of her own painted on the ceilings, including butterflies, clouds, rainbows and ice cream cones. — Colson Thayer, PEOPLE, 4 Aug. 2026 Kim, best known for her paintings of faces, had recently begun painting clouds. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 3 Aug. 2026 The Associated Press reported in December that two NATO-nation intelligence services suspect Russia is developing a new anti-satellite weapon to target Musk’s Starlink constellation with destructive orbiting clouds of shrapnel. — Lisa Mascaro, Fortune, 2 Aug. 2026 Now, Fedorov’s abrupt, surprise dismissal is casting jet-black clouds over Ukraine’s metamorphosis into a super-tech fighting force. — Kevin Holden Platt, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Verb
The United States’ relationship with its partners in the region also clouds its messaging and invites escalation. — Erik Lin-Greenberg, Foreign Affairs, 31 July 2026 Much of the debris that clouds the water in this technique is leftover detergent and fabric softener that build up in fabric fibers over time, according to the article. — Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 The recent explosion of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket on its launch pad in Florida also clouds ULA’s return-to-flight plans for Vulcan. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 7 July 2026 Mamdani has done the same, but Sherman’s own bias against Muslims clouds his judgment. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 29 June 2026 When Kendi began experiencing slight cloudiness in her right eye, veterinarians identified the issue head-on — cataracts, a condition that clouds the eye's lens and can lead to blindness if left untreated. — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 9 June 2026 Ambiguity clouds the conversation and risks leaving your protégé more confused than enlightened. — Chip Bell, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026 Soap scum clouds the shower glass. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 30 Apr. 2026 Lomu is expected to change positions in New England, which clouds his projection at the next level. — Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clouds
  1. shadows
  2. obscures
  3. confuses
  4. hazes
  5. blurs
  6. fogs
  7. darkens
  8. obfuscates
Noun
  • As political turmoil and public discontent grow, Geonyoung, played by Jung Woosung, emerges from the shadows to chase down a revenge plot nearly a decade in the making.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Between color and contrast, rest assured that visuals will be lifelike yet discernible (and you won’t get picked off by a bad agent hiding in the shadows).
    — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of shadows
Verb
  • This is a shame, and not only because the book’s style obscures its significance as the most high-profile effort by that date to marry what were then the two most important currents of French philosophy.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 July 2026
  • Studying differences at the state level further obscures the signal by combining rural California with San Francisco Bay Area counties or upstate New York with New York City.
    — Marc Lipsitch, STAT, 21 July 2026
Definition of obscures
Verb
  • These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
    — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 28 June 2026
  • But nobody confuses Harvard Extension School classes with the real thing.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 June 2026
Definition of confuses
Noun
  • Scientists believe seasonal winter clouds and hazes in the region may be limiting how atmospheric dust scatters sunlight there.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • The 56-year-old Williams has since found his mind often wanders through hazes of grief to memories of Thomas.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 18 Apr. 2026
Definition of hazes
Verb
  • As surveillance and interrogation deepen, the line between loyalty and obsession blurs, leading both men into a dangerous and uncontrollable connection.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
  • For advertisers, this blurs the lines between traditional TV and digital buys, rebuilding the content bundle and emphasizing account linking for addressable advertising.
    — Gabriel Alin Zainescu, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Definition of blurs
Verb
  • The housekeeping team fogs the balés every week to keep most of the biting insects at bay, and gardens teeming with mosquito-repelling lemongrass and zodia plants help keep them at a distance.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of fogs
Verb
  • Cook, stirring often, until paste darkens in color, about 4 minutes.
    — Rachel Dolfi, Bon Appetit Magazine, 30 July 2026
  • During this time, the sky darkens, and viewers can remove their eclipse glasses to view our planet's moon blocking our star.
    — Julia Gomez, USA Today, 29 July 2026
Definition of darkens
Verb
  • Instead, Cubans turn to the internet, reading abroad what their government obfuscates or denies at home.
    — Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 9 July 2026
  • His bad-boy swagger externally obfuscates his heart of gold, but his goodness and morality are apparent.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2026
Definition of obfuscates

Browse Nearby Words

cloud nine
clouds
cloudy
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Cite this Entry

“Clouds.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clouds. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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