DECIPHER Synonyms: 71 Similar and Opposite Words

decipher

verb

dē-ˈsī-fər

Definition of decipher

as in to crack

to change (as a secret message) from code into ordinary language we deciphered the hidden message to find out when we were supposed to meet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to understand

to have a clear idea of a convoluted thriller, the plot of which I was never able to actually decipher

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 decipher On Thursday, the University of Kentucky announced a new $1 million prize to anyone able to decipher a complete scroll, a feat the researchers once considered impossible, by June next year. — Claudio Lavanga, NBC news, 26 June 2026 Already, papyrologists are deciphering new texts that indicate other possible authors in the Herculaneum collection, including one of the leaders of the Stoic philosophy school. — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 26 June 2026 The Vesuvius Challenge was launched by Brent Seales, a computer science professor at the University of Kentucky, and entrepreneurs Nat Friedman and Daniel Gross in 2023 to encourage researchers from around the world to try to decipher the scrolls by virtually unwrapping and decoding them. — Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 One of the most exciting uses of AI has to be helping historians and archaeologists decipher previously indecipherable or untranslatable ancient texts. — Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 23 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for decipher

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decipher

Verb

ScreenshotA complaint that appears to have been filed on July 8, 2021, through the county's SeeClickFix, or 311, online reporting system described cracking and chipping concrete pillars in the building's underground parking garage.

— Drew Aunkst, CBS News, 31 July 2026
While no California city cracked WalletHub’s top 50 spots for first-time buyers, several communities ranked well above many other cities in the state.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026

Definition of crack

Verb

Instead of diluting its elite credibility to reach a broader audience, the brand translated that credibility into environments where the average person could understand its every day relevance.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Even more unnerving than the sheer volume is how little the impact is understood and accounted for.

— Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 31 July 2026

Definition of understand

Verb

Instead of diluting its elite credibility to reach a broader audience, the brand translated that credibility into environments where the average person could understand its every day relevance.

— Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
But while these narratives demonstrate local viability, translating them into a statewide apparatus under a Republican banner is a dead end.

— Dain Fitzgerald, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of translate

Verb

Funen is a historic spot known for its 123 castles and estates, and Odense is particularly lovely, with characterful old streets, lush greenery, and inspiring museums that add to its charm.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026
What was once known as Westport Middle School opened in 1924 and closed in 2009.

— Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of know

Verb

Lauren Harper, was breaking department rules, and potentially the law, by having sex in parking lots and along streets.

— Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 1 Aug. 2026
If the turbine components are off by even a fraction of a millimeter, intense rotational speeds can cause severe vibrations and break the helium seals.

— Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 31 July 2026

Definition of break

Verb

Bible said what investigators found on Luke Poteete's phone is difficult to comprehend.

— Shelley Bortz, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Dodson, after all, was the green-dot guy (the person who gets the calls from the sideline), something that can be rather difficult for a rookie to immediately comprehend.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026

Definition of comprehend

Verb

In 1985, Dutch researcher Wim van Eck showed that electromagnetic signals from video display units could be captured and decoded, raising the possibility of eavesdropping on what a screen displayed.

— Chetan Jaiswal, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
But for the millions of people now paying more of the bill themselves, a model built around clarity and continuity is a meaningful improvement over decoding the system alone.

— Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026

Definition of decode

Verb

Travel + Leisure’s 2026 World’s Best Awards recognized several standout properties, with Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, earning the top spot among international wellness retreats for more than a decade.

— Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
The family’s case was rejected — despite being first and second generation, and despite Pedro Monasterios and his children having been recognized as citizens just a few years earlier.

— Julia Buckley, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026