1
as in defining
to give the rules about (something) clearly and exactly the document specifies precisely how you may use the information it contains
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in mentioning
to make reference to or speak about briefly but specifically police reports didn't specify the model of car the robbers were driving
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 specifying Warsh’s filings list holdings in two funds that are valued at over $50 million, without specifying an upper limit. —
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026 However, Microsoft’s partner portal website mysteriously said his account had been deactivated, without specifying why. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026 Jones posted a farewell message to social media Tuesday evening without specifying his next move. —Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026 OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026 An Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesperson said the disruption was ongoing, without specifying the exact location affected or any potential damage done. —CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 Access and collaborative agreements — and sometimes even land return agreements — come with requirements specifying what tribes can and cannot do with the land. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 What Sheridan isn’t shy about specifying is what’s wrong with the present. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026 The bill also removes language specifying that an officer is not justified in using force during an arrest if the arrest is unlawful. —Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Matt Peterson, CNBC, 14 Apr. 2026 However, Microsoft’s partner portal website mysteriously said his account had been deactivated, without specifying why. —Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026 Jones posted a farewell message to social media Tuesday evening without specifying his next move. —Matt Young, Houston Chronicle, 7 Apr. 2026 OpenAI’s paper conspicuously avoids specifying a corporate tax rate, a diplomatic omission that suggests the company knows where the political land mines are buried. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026 An Amazon Web Services (AWS) spokesperson said the disruption was ongoing, without specifying the exact location affected or any potential damage done. —CBS News, 24 Mar. 2026 Access and collaborative agreements — and sometimes even land return agreements — come with requirements specifying what tribes can and cannot do with the land. —Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026 What Sheridan isn’t shy about specifying is what’s wrong with the present. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Mar. 2026 The bill also removes language specifying that an officer is not justified in using force during an arrest if the arrest is unlawful. —Marta Zherukha, Miami Herald, 11 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for specifying
Verb
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Again, there is no official criterion defining a low-contact relationship, so don’t get hung up on labels.— Ashley Oerman, SELF, 22 Apr. 2026
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Supreme Indigo is the mill’s defining color story for the season.— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But the relevant scenes were reportedly removed at the insistence of Jackson’s estate (which also paid for related reshoots), on the grounds that its settlement with an accuser prohibited it from depicting or mentioning him.— Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Apr. 2026
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Bravo is fortunate he’s seen Dodger broadcasts mentioning Koufax at the stadium and on TV, motivating him to learn more, which led to seeing his windup on YouTube.— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Baystate offered counseling for gender non-conforming youth, and the endocrinology department had experience in prescribing hormone therapy.— Karen Brown, NPR, 17 Apr. 2026
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These are among the good reasons many doctors now think twice about prescribing narcotics to manage pain.— Dr. Patricia Richard, Hartford Courant, 14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Cameroon’s Constitutional Council dismissed petitions alleging electoral fraud, citing a lack of evidence.— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
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According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Retail Investor Outlook, Gen-Z’s trust in traditional financial institutions has fallen over the past two years, with nearly 20% of non-investors citing distrust of financial institutions as a reason for staying out of markets entirely.— Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After noticing a problem, keepers separated the mother from her newborn, who weighed just 443 grams (less than a pound) and required immediate placement in an incubator at CIMBA to stabilize his temperature and safeguard his health, Reynoso Ruiz said.— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
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The days of people noticing pregnant women on the subway are largely over.— The Editors, Curbed, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Los Angeles County Office of Education is investigating the possibility that bad actors gained access to the electronic tax documents of teachers and administrators after employees at schools around the county received letters indicating fraudulent tax filings had been submitted in their names.— Jason Henry, Daily News, 18 Apr. 2026
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When the San Francisco Chronicle published its investigation, Swalwell’s campaign collapsed within 48 hours, indicating that the evidence was sufficiently substantial to immediately persuade political allies, campaign chairs, and fellow Democrats to withdraw their support.— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Brantley County Sheriff Len Davis warned residents to be ready to evacuate, noting that the winds could shift rapidly and unexpectedly.— Jeff Martin, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2026
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Ikome viewed the pope’s visit as symbolic, noting that Biya had invested in significant infrastructure projects in Bamenda, including renovating its airport, in preparation for the visit, which could be positive for local residents.— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tribal council is mostly about quoting famous people.— Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2026
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Caught quoting lines of a phony Bible passage from Pulp Fiction as scripture Wednesday during a Pentagon ceremony, the former Fox News host has become even more of a piñata to political foes than ever.— Dominic Patten, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Specifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/specifying. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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