decipher
verb
de·ci·pher
dē-ˈsī-fər 
deciphered; deciphering; deciphers
1
: decode sense 1a
decipher a secret message
2
obsolete
: depict
with her majesty's name deciphered in gold letters—
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift3
a
: to make out the meaning of despite indistinctness or obscurity
trying to decipher her handwriting
b
: to interpret the meaning of
decipher the poem
Examples of decipher in a Sentence
I couldn't decipher his sloppy handwriting.
we deciphered the hidden message to find out when we were supposed to meet
Recent Examples on the Web
As Guidry and Bowen try to decipher what led to Adam’s murder, viewers are taken on a ride.
—Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
As advocates on both sides of the police accountability debate decipher what Trump's about-face means for those communities, some are now focusing on what his administration might do next as allies seek to redefine the summer of 2020.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Scholars are also working to decipher khipus by sorting them into genres.
—Sam Kean, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025
After surveying for over 40 consecutive breeding seasons, researchers were able to decipher the relationship between breeders and helpers.
—Jay Kakade
may 18, New Atlas, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decipher
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Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 29 May 2025
As advocates on both sides of the police accountability debate decipher what Trump's about-face means for those communities, some are now focusing on what his administration might do next as allies seek to redefine the summer of 2020.
—Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 27 May 2025
Scholars are also working to decipher khipus by sorting them into genres.
—Sam Kean, The Atlantic, 26 May 2025
After surveying for over 40 consecutive breeding seasons, researchers were able to decipher the relationship between breeders and helpers.
—Jay Kakade
may 18, New Atlas, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for decipher
Cite this Entry
“Decipher.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decipher. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
decipher
verb
de·ci·pher
di-ˈsī-fər
1
: to convert into understandable form
especially
: decode
2
: to make out the meaning of despite lack of clearness
decipher sloppy handwriting
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