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
On a day that Dolphins quarterback Malik Willis threw two interceptions and lost a fumble and again generally struggled, coach Jeff Hafley said the turnovers are not acceptable and made clear the team’s sputtering passing game must be better. — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 11 Oct. 2026 Infighting remains common among the factions, and there is still no clear political end state. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
Range Control imposed safety check-holds across adjacent training sectors to clear the zone and protect surrounding operations. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026 Spain defender Lucía Corrales cleared an Alyssa Thompson effort off the line. — Thomas Floyd, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026
Adverb
The course was built in just six months – with no irrigation or mass clear-cutting of trees. — Erik Matuszewski, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Having used so much draft capital up front, Seattle’s clear biggest need is finding puck-moving, mobile defensemen. — Corey Pronman, New York Times, 23 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
  • Many players have obvious economic incentives to seek to extend their collegiate careers for as long as possible.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The press release probably didn’t need to also say the company imbued it with distinctive character or charm; that’s quite obvious from the design.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of obvious
Adjective
  • With no clear end to the volatility, independent retailers are having to build it into their buying strategies, prioritizing flexible orders, transparent shipping terms, and suppliers willing to share the risk.
    — Jessica Binns, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Espinosa demanded accountability from ICE and called for a transparent investigation of the incident.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of transparent
Adjective
  • Helping someone become confident about protecting herself online can be equally valuable, particularly as more everyday tasks move online and onto apps.
    — Ethan Stone October 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder has learned the roles and responsibilities at defensive end, middle linebacker, weak side linebacker and strong side linebacker, and the Falcons are confident in his ability to play each at a high level.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of confident
Adjective
  • Stop at Callicoon Wine Merchant for a bottle paired with a stinky cheese on their sunny patio.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Oct. 2026
  • According to the forecast, Saturday will start out mostly sunny with wind gusts up to 20 mph.
    — Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of sunny
Adjective
  • Some experiments also indicate improvement in markers of inflammation, though, here, as with many areas, the findings are not conclusive, says Lee.
    — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The reply from John Thorn, the official historian of Major League Baseball, was far less conclusive.
    — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 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
  • More than 150 innocent civilians were also killed in those strikes, according to a report released by the Pentagon this August.
    — Frank Andrews, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • In England, poet William Cowper portrayed Mai as an innocent corrupted by European society.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 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

Phrases Containing clear

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clear
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Cite this Entry

“Clear.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clear. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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