explicate

[ek-spli-keyt] / ˈɛk splɪˌkeɪt /

VERB

clarify, expand

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 make plain run down spell out tell why work out

Antonyms

STRONG

compress conceal confuse hide lessen obscure stop

WEAK

cloud complicate mystify tangle

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.

We chronicle, explicate, elucidate and constantly “re-adjudicate” historical events and personages.

From Salon • Jul. 30, 2024

"But I do think it's fair to say the burden is on the firm to explicate and help develop appropriate guardrails to prevent nefarious uses."

From Science Daily • May 2, 2024

Mind-scientists labor to explicate us, with theories ranging from Freudian psychoanalysis to neuro-evo-psycho-cognitive whatever.

From Scientific American • Dec. 24, 2022

This is related to a question of ethics, which is what is falling in that lacuna between greatness and crap that only criticism can both explicate and reify in some way.

From New York Times • Jan. 7, 2022

I know the difference between a raceme and a rhizome, I explicate photosynthesis, I can spell Scrofulariaciae.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

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