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2
as in nobody
a person of no importance or influence
it was either write the Great American Novel or be consigned to the status of a cipher in the annals of literature
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to figure
to determine (a value) by doing the necessary mathematical operations
were surprised by how much we had spent on the cruise after we had ciphered out the grand total
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cipher
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
5 Sep. 2025
These remnants, signals from an earlier phase of our human condition, have been endlessly ciphered by generations of archaeologists in the Bears Ears region (which is named for twin buttes near its center).
—
Stephen Nash,
New York Times,
25 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for cipher
Noun
The still-unidentified Zodiac Killer, who terrorized the San Francisco Bay Area in the late 1960s, frequently sent threats, demands and ciphers to multiple local papers — namely the San Francisco Chronicle.
—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
21 Feb. 2026
Finally, Marilyn is not presented as a cipher to be solved or quarry to be caged.
—
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
The real challenge from AI will likely emerge in the weeks and months ahead as firms cipher through Judge Mehta’s enforcement of behavioral requirements.
—
Tor Constantino,
Forbes.com,
5 Sep. 2025
These remnants, signals from an earlier phase of our human condition, have been endlessly ciphered by generations of archaeologists in the Bears Ears region (which is named for twin buttes near its center).
—
Stephen Nash,
New York Times,
25 July 2017
See All Example Sentences for cipher
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cipher
Noun
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While CinemaCon 2026 brought us exciting news about new films, it was also bogged down with status quo nothings about how Amazon MGM still hasn’t found a new James Bond.
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When Dana, who, like Virginia, had been successful in writing pleasant but undistinguished nothings—in her case, songs for Billy Rose’s revues—decided to try taking on more serious music by studying with Boulanger, Virginia entered a deep downward spiral.
Noun
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Despite the tragicomic instability and the rotating cast of nobodies temporarily tasked with running the country, when seen in macroeconomic terms, Peru appears to be doing just fine, thank you.
-
Unlike some of his more strapping forebears (think Liam Neeson, Kevin Costner, or Aaron Eckhart), Odenkirk specializes in nobodies and normals: people one would not expect to be killing machines.
Verb
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There was success, attention, expectation - and underneath it, a girl still figuring herself out.
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Going back to the books, the cocoon periods after each tragedy were periods of vulnerability, figuring things out and trying to survive, and that’s incredibly satisfying to play.
Noun
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For those on a budget with slightly less zeroes, RPM Bakehouse is a more laissez-faire, cafe-slash bakery.
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Kids whose families had been chased out of half of Europe started the picture studios, the scrap yards that became fortunes, and eventually the software companies that created a whole new world of ones and zeros.
Noun
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Beyond the fruit, the dwarf golden spice pear features clusters of white spring blooms and glossy leaves that turn a striking burgundy or bronze color in the fall.
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Many get very large, so be sure to buy a dwarf variety for foundation plantings.
Verb
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The constellation would also brighten the night sky by up to 300 percent, Hanuit calculated.
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The parents allege that UC Davis included what was meant only to be an expense offset for the in-kind donations of horses in calculating the total cost of the equestrian program.
Noun
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Sehgal, who wore a jacket and a quarter zip, took in the monument’s massive granite pylons, inscribed with the names and ranks of the more than four thousand Americans who never returned from the Atlantic during the Second World War.
-
Use clear or black zip-ties to further secure any loose points on the line.
Noun
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Wear lightweight, loose and light-colored clothing and a brimmed hat.
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The lightweight frames have rubber temple grips and adjustable nose pads.
Cite this Entry
“Cipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cipher. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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