SPELL OUT Synonyms: 37 Similar and Opposite Words

spell out

verb

Definition of spell out

as in to explain

to make plain or understandable the dating applicant spelled out exactly what she wanted in a man

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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 spell out The hotel’s personality is spelled out by the stores in the mall it’s connected to—all upscale, all chic. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026 The 90-second video, uploaded to Instagram by content creator Ed Choi, was shot Sunday at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, where Raman held a rally spelling out her plan for her first 100 days as mayor. — David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 The settlement includes a consent decree that spells out a schedule of 30-plus theatrical releases per year as well as separate negotiations for the Paramount and Warner Bros. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 5 Oct. 2026 In case of what need not be spelled out when the series opens with a shocking tableau of gay bar owner Leo Struthers (Alan Cumming), the recipient of Melba’s speech, hanging by his neck from a streetlight outside his Manchester home. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spell out

Recent Examples of Synonyms for spell out

Verb

An elephantine star becoming a black hole doesn’t explain it either.

— Robin George Andrews, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Maybe this explains why Effective Altruism—the idea that generosity should be subjected to evidence and calculation—seemed counterintuitive.

— David Miliband, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of explain

Verb

Its flight heritage illustrates the importance of dependable computing hardware in missions where repairs are difficult or impossible.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
The incident illustrates the failures of trust and safety provisions that are supposed to protect against this kind of confusion.

— Mia Sato, The Verge, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of illustrate

Verb

The improvement demonstrates how low-noise lasers and high-quality optical resonators can increase rotation sensitivity on a photonic chip.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Oct. 2026
Their accounts demonstrate how AI is blurring the line between what's real and what's fake in the already fraught arena of online dating.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of demonstrate

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spelling out

spell out

spells

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Style

“Spell out.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/spell%20out. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of spell out

verb

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