make plain

VERB

clarify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

analyze clear up define formulate interpret resolve simplify spell out

STRONG

delineate elucidate illuminate illustrate settle

WEAK

break down draw a picture make perfectly clear shed light on straighten out throw light on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

complicate confuse question

STRONG

mix up obscure

WEAK

dirty muddle muddy

VERB

clear the air

Synonyms

WEAK

clarify decipher define elucidate explain interpret make clear shed light on show simplify solve spell out

VERB

elucidate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clear up decode enlighten exemplify explicate expound get across illuminate

STRONG

annotate clarify clear demonstrate gloss illustrate interpret prove unfold

WEAK

draw a picture make perfectly clear make see daylight shed light on spell out throw light on

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cloud complicate confuse obscure

STRONG

conceal hide

WEAK

be vague distract make ambiguous mix up mystify

VERB

exhibit

Synonyms

STRONGEST

advertise demonstrate display evince express feature flaunt illustrate indicate manifest reveal show

STRONG

air brandish disclose disport evidence expose flash mark offer parade proclaim showcase

WEAK

let it all hang out make clear ostend parade wares roll out show and tell show off strut stuff trot out wave around

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conceal cover hide obscure withhold

VERB

explain

Synonyms

STRONGEST

analyze clarify define demonstrate describe disclose expound illustrate interpret justify point out read resolve reveal solve spell out tell

STRONG

annotate construe decipher diagram elucidate excuse explicate manifest paraphrase rationalize refine render teach translate unfold unravel untangle

WEAK

account for break down bring out clear up get across go into detail put across put in plain English set right throw light upon

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conceal confuse distort hide misrepresent misunderstand question wonder

STRONG

cloud mystify obscure stagnate tangle withhold

WEAK

be vague complicate perplex

VERB

explicate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

amplify elucidate expound untangle

STRONG

construe demonstrate develop dilate enucleate expatiate explain illustrate interpret unfold

WEAK

clear up enlarge upon give the big picture make clear make explicit run down spell out tell why work out

Antonyms

STRONG

compress conceal confuse hide lessen obscure stop

WEAK

cloud complicate mystify tangle

VERB

illustrate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clarify delineate depict embody emphasize epitomize exhibit explain expose highlight illuminate interpret lay out manifest mark mirror personify point up portray represent reveal spotlight symbolize typify

STRONG

allegorize clear disclose elucidate evidence evince expound imitate instance picture proclaim show vivify

WEAK

bring home clear up draw a picture emblematize get across get over limelight make clear ostend show and tell

Antonyms

STRONGEST

complicate conceal confuse cover hide obscure save

VERB

ravel

Synonyms

STRONG

disentangle free loosen unbraid unravel unsnarl untangle untwine untwist unweave unwind

WEAK

smooth out weave out

Antonyms

STRONG

tangle twist wind

WEAK

put together

VERB

reveal

Synonyms

STRONGEST

acknowledge admit affirm announce concede confess declare divulge explain expose inform publish report tell

STRONG

avow betray broadcast communicate impart leak notify proclaim talk unfold utter

WEAK

break the news bring out into open bring to light come out with get out of system give away give out give the low-down let cat out of the bag let fall let on let out let slip make known make public put cards on table

Antonyms

STRONGEST

conceal contradict deny disavow dispute dissent hide refuse reject repudiate secrete suppress

STRONG

keep keep quiet withhold

WEAK

cover

VERB

simplify

Synonyms

STRONGEST

clarify cut down facilitate reduce shorten streamline

STRONG

abridge analyze chasten decipher disentangle disinvolve elucidate explain interpret order unscramble

WEAK

boil down break down break it down clean it up clean up clear up cut the frills draw a picture get down to basics get to the meat hit the high spots lay out let daylight in let sunlight in make clear make perfectly clear put in a nutshell put one straight spell out

Antonyms

STRONGEST

grow increase

STRONG

be vague confuse mix up mystify obscure

WEAK

complicate make difficult

VERB

speak out/speak up

Synonyms

WEAK

assert come out with declare have one's say insist let voice be heard make oneself heard say loud and clear sound off speak loudly speak one's mind stand up for

Antonyms

WEAK

be quiet shut up

VERB

speak up

Synonyms

STRONGEST

sound off

WEAK

assert declare insist speak loudly speak out

VERB

spell out

Synonyms

STRONGEST

define describe expound illustrate justify point out

WEAK

break down brief clear up clue in decipher decode diagram draw a map fill someone in get across go into detail interpret put across put in plain English teach tell throw light upon translate unfold unravel untangle

Antonyms

STRONGEST

confuse

VERB

unclothe

Synonyms

STRONG

bare disclose display exhibit expose flash manifest open show uncover unearth unmask unveil

WEAK

bring to light lay bare lay open

Antonyms

STRONG

bury conceal cover hide secrete withhold

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

As Jackson pointed out, the relevant House Committee said it “wishes to make plain that it expects the courts to imply private rights of action under this legislation.”

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

"This outcome should make plain that time does not preclude a successful prosecution; we will doggedly pursue justice for the victims of non-recent crimes, no matter how many decades have passed."

From BBC • Feb. 2, 2026

In fact, as these letters make plain, this ability to marvel and thank was anything but a hindrance to greatness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 10, 2025

Or are they simply there to make plain old water taste like a piña colada?

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 22, 2024

I had decided to ask a yes-or-no question, which might at least make plain the extent and kind of obscurity or ambiguity in the answer.

From "The Left Hand of Darkness" by Ursula K. Le Guin

make plain

Example Sentences

Related Words