TRANSPARENT Synonyms: 54 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'transparent' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of transparent are clear , limpid , and translucent . While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly. // a transparent sheet of film

Q: When is it sensible to use 'clear' instead of 'transparent'?

The words clear and transparent can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness. // clear water

Q: When can 'limpid' be used instead of 'transparent'?

The words limpid and transparent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water. // her eyes were limpid pools of blue

Q: Where would 'translucent' be a reasonable alternative to 'transparent'?

The meanings of translucent and transparent largely overlap; however, translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond. // translucent frosted glass

transparent

adjective

tran(t)s-ˈper-ənt

Definition of transparent

as in crystal

easily seen through bottles of blue transparent glass

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in clear

not subject to misinterpretation or more than one interpretation his meaning in leaving the conversation is transparent: he doesn't want to talk about his combat experiences

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in sheer

very thin and easy to see through flowy summer dresses made partly of chiffon or other transparent fabrics

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective transparent contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of transparent are clear, limpid, and translucent. While all these words mean "capable of being seen through," transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly.

a transparent sheet of film

When is it sensible to use clear instead of transparent?

The words clear and transparent can be used in similar contexts, but clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness.

clear water

When can limpid be used instead of transparent?

The words limpid and transparent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water.

her eyes were limpid pools of blue

Where would translucent be a reasonable alternative to transparent?

The meanings of translucent and transparent largely overlap; however, translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond.

translucent frosted glass

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 transparent Some states, including California, have enacted measures about AI, including requiring entities to be transparent when it is used. — Chandelis Duster, NPR, 4 Oct. 2026 The company ending its practice of using nondisclosure agreements when building new data centers will likely help make projects more transparent. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026 When the air is perfectly safe, the boxes will be transparent, as if one of Constable’s cloudscapes were uncannily to clear. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026 Crypto’s mainstream investment case has become increasingly institutionalized and transparent, while AI has made large-scale financial surveillance and transaction analysis more powerful. — Sarah Min,davis Giangiulio,chloe Taylor,lee Ying Shan,ananya Chetia, CNBC, 1 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for transparent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for transparent

Adjective

O’Connor’s face filled the screen, her crystal-blue eyes piercing me in my own living room.

— Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 25 July 2026
Beside the dessert sat a crystal coupe overflowing with Caramelized Shallot Dip from Every Leaf, Every Stem.

— Nina Moskowitz, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 June 2026

Definition of crystal

Adjective

Iit was clear that Chiefs fans missed seeing Suamataia and hoped to hear why the Chiefs had made the change to the offensive line for the game between 3-0 teams.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Cutting loose McDaniel would be expensive, too, and there’s no clear successor waiting in the wings.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of clear

Adjective

Known as the Shark Bay UNESCO World Heritage Site, the place gets its name from English buccaneer-cum-naturalist William Dampier, who was overcome by the bay’s sheer abundance and the size of the marine predators during a visit in 1699.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Oct. 2026
Through the sheer force of his will and his brilliant comedic timing, Bratton was elevated to a cast member by the second season.

— Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of sheer

Adjective

This has also been seen from orbit many times in photos from the International Space Station and, in fact, was seen by the Cassini spacecraft at Saturn when sunlight reflected off lakes of liquid methane on its huge moon Titan.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
New futures contracts often struggle to generate meaningful trading activity, and those that do succeed can take years to build a liquid market with abundant buyers and sellers.

— Bruce Blythe, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of liquid

Adjective

From every theoretical point of view, Dovner was transforming the Soviet system, which had been conceived as something of perfect, crystalline purity.

— Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, New Yorker, 27 Sep. 2026
The three-stage process increased the amount of crystalline material while the nanotubes helped orient those crystals.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026

Definition of crystalline

Cite this Entry

Style

“Transparent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/transparent. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of transparent

adjective

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inscrutable

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes