DETECTING Synonyms: 38 Similar and Opposite Words

detecting

verb

present participle of detect

as in finding

to come upon after searching, study, or effort I can detect just a hint of lemon in the soup

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

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 detecting But despite that truncated lifetime, Philae made several key discoveries – including detecting organics on 67P, mission scientists said. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 2 Sep. 2026 This is particularly useful because deer are often active during twilight, when detecting predators can be more important than distinguishing a broad range of colors. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026 Its survey will produce huge amounts of data and could solve several cosmic mysteries, with potential achievements ranging from understanding dark energy to detecting exoplanets—and finding some things astronomers don’t even know about yet. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2026 The Gap Between Medicine And Health Optimization Traditional medicine is extremely important for gathering information, detecting disease and helping keep people alive. — Mick Safron, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Yet the Department of Military Counterintelligence—formally responsible for detecting foreign spies within the armed forces—has also been involved in many cases, reflecting the growing dependence of Russian industries on military contracts. — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026 The Hensoldt passive radar demonstrated excellent performance in detecting and tracking air targets. — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026 But so far, only LeoLabs has reported detecting the debris from the rocket. — Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 28 Aug. 2026 That could help teams understand what the system is detecting instead of receiving only a warning with little context. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for detecting

Verb

That has carried over in our approach to blocking and camera work, and finding ways to avoid cutting if at all possible.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026
Thomas Edison wrote about a bug in the call apparatus of his telephone in a letter in 1878, and the Pall Mall Gazette ran a story in 1889 referencing Edison finding a bug in his phonograph.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of finding

Verb

Thankfully, a member of the team—a former hotel front desk employee who, after learning about the team’s project, offered to quit his job and do their business development—wouldn’t take no for an answer.

— Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 3 Sep. 2026
Ghostface initially appeared to believe Thomas wanted an autograph before learning the artwork was a gift.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of learning

Verb

Take a breather by the beach, where days are made for lingering on golden sands, discovering hidden coves, and relaxing to the tune of the rolling Mediterranean tide.

— Condé Nast Traveler, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Europe continues to be an incredible source of inspiration for our design team, from collecting vintage and sourcing fabrics and prints to discovering local markets, artisans and craftsmanship.

— Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of discovering

Verb

New South Wales police shared a photo of Gallagher, 28, and asked the public for help locating him.

— Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026
Hawthorne has seen a revival in recent years, thanks in part to SpaceX locating its headquarters there and the booming sports and entertainment complexes to the north in Inglewood.

— Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of locating

Verb

Yankees fans might be getting flashbacks of Boone’s defense for Anthony Volpe, who similarly faded into inconsistency after emerging as the apparent heir to the franchise’s shortstop role.

— Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
And with 11 billion tons of freight moved by truck in 2024, the stakes of getting safety right extend far beyond the competition floor.

— Alice Barlow, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of getting

Browse Nearby Words

detected

detecting

detection

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Detecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detecting. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of detecting

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

apiary

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Games & Quizzes