Synonyms of clarifying

clarifying 1 of 2

adjective

as in illuminating

Related Words

• illuminating
• explanatory
• elucidative
• revealing
• direct
• frank
• outspoken
• candid
• revelatory
• plainspoken
• plain
• openhearted
• forthright
• open
• straight
• free-spoken
• truthful
• straightforward
• trustworthy
• nondeceptive
• foursquare
• honest
• aboveboard

Dissimilar Words

• misleading
• deceptive
• false
• fallacious
• specious
• beguiling
• deceiving
• subtle
• deceitful
• delusive
• trick
• tricky
• deluding
• artful
• incorrect
• cunning
• sly
• sneaky
• slick
• wrong
• subtile
• shady
• wily
• shifty
• crafty
• delusory
• devious
• underhanded
• inaccurate
• foxy
• underhand
• trickish
• sneaking
• guileful

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

• filtering
• refining
• extracting
• cleaning
• fining
• clearing
• purifying
• processing
• distilling
• washing
• purging
• rectifying
• garbling
• sifting
• cleansing
• decontaminating
• screening
• sanitizing
• leaching
• disinfecting
• sieving
• elutriating
• bolting

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• clouding
• muddying
• dulling
• contaminating
• soiling
• polluting
• dirtying
• defiling
• tainting
• fouling
• besmirching
• sullying
• begriming

2

as in explaining

to make plain or understandable

it would help if you could clarify your position for us

Synonyms & Similar Words

• explaining
• illustrating
• demonstrating
• simplifying
• illuminating
• interpreting
• elucidating
• explicating
• construing
• expounding
• analyzing
• clearing (up)
• demystifying
• defining
• resolving
• spelling out
• specifying
• getting across
• deciphering
• solving
• unriddling
• decoding
• unraveling
• disentangling
• untangling
• glossing
• undoing
• annotating
• breaking down
• unscrambling
• commentating

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• obscuring
• clouding
• confusing
• confounding
• obfuscating
• befogging

Example Sentences

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

Before meeting with a patient advocate, identify your main objectives – for example, preparing for a transition home, clarifying a treatment plan or understanding medication changes. — Jennifer Schlinger, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

In November 2025, South Korea proposed talks on clarifying the borderline, but North Korea didn’t respond. — ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026

Gillian Anderson is clarifying a viral video that shows the actress confronting a group of superfans who repeatedly sit in the front row of her West End production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 5 Oct. 2026

Leonard, however, claimed in her lawsuit that the city declined to issue a statement clarifying that she was not involved. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 2 Oct. 2026

Krell responded one week later by clarifying certain portions of her request, including the timeframe, the communications systems to be searched and providing eight specific search terms. — Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026

Following an investigation, the Indiana Fever released a statement clarifying that arena security found no official violation of the WNBA Fan Code of Conduct. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 Sep. 2026

Beijing has never publicly confirmed Zhou’s job title, and his official biography has few clarifying details. — Sylvie Zhuang, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026

The piece contends that the rulings strengthen public confidence in California’s election administration by protecting the chain of custody and clarifying state oversight of local law enforcement. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026