as in to find
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
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Recent Examples of detect
In June 2025, Sri Lanka's customs authorities arrested a woman and seized the largest haul of cocaine ever detected at the country's main airport.
—
CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
At those speeds, defensive systems have limited time to detect, track, and respond.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, scientists were unable to detect trace metals through imaging.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The sandals were cleaned, but a chemical test detected blood on the footwear, the report states.
—David Goodhue
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
CBS News, 27 Apr. 2026
At those speeds, defensive systems have limited time to detect, track, and respond.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
Unfortunately, scientists were unable to detect trace metals through imaging.
—Ryan Brennan
april 27, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Apr. 2026
The sandals were cleaned, but a chemical test detected blood on the footwear, the report states.
—David Goodhue
april 27, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for detect
Recent Examples of Synonyms for detect
Verb
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Arttu Hyry has been terrific since entering the lineup for Game 2, but his third line hasn’t found the back of the net.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Senior second baseman Alexis Richter has learned a lot about playing softball from her three older sisters.—
Tony Baranek,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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The wife and mother of two people who died on the Titanic submersible is sharing what she's learned about grief and life after loss.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Detectives located him by following the meandering path of laundry, sent to him by his wife, via multiple messengers.—
Ed Caesar,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
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Pluto, a frigid mountainous world with craters and glaciers, is located among icy bodies in the Kuiper Belt, located at the outskirts of our solar system beyond Neptune's orbit – now the farthest planet from the sun.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Positive Results Center empowers healing journeys, helping people of all ages discover their dreams and potential.—
Staff Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
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Ronald Meißner, a registered with the State Office for Archaeology of Saxony, discovered the artifacts.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Five hours before the puck dropped, the get-in price was $239 for a ticket in the top row of the arena.—
Todd Harmonson,
Oc Register,
25 Apr. 2026
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Both Ponds and Glenn were undersized cornerbacks who both love to get physical.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Detect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/detect. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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