SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
decipher
verb
To work out the meaning of coded, unclear, or difficult material.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Work out difficult meaning
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDecrypt specifically concerns encrypted material; decipher also fits unclear handwriting or confusing messages.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See decipher in use
The archivist used a magnifying glass to decipher the faded note.
Nia next tried to decipher the cramped handwritten labels on the print log, asking the original recorder to clarify two uncertain marks.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license