Blear — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb adjective /ˈblir/

Meaning & Definition of Blear

Blear (verb)

  1. to make (the eyes) sore or watery
  2. dim, blur

Blear (adjective)

  1. dim with water or tears
  2. obscure to the view or imagination

Blear (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. not seen or understood clearly

    "I can't describe him; all I saw was a blear figure for an instant"

    similar: bleary, blurry, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, murky, nebulous, obscure, opaque, pale, shadowy, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague
    related: dark, dusky, gloomy, impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible, hieroglyphic, incomprehensible, indecipherable, indiscernible, inexplicable, mysterious, obfuscatory, puzzling
    opposite: clear, definite, pellucid
    near: bright, distinct, evident, obvious, plain, certain, firm, strong, sure

Blear (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to make dark, dim, or indistinct

    "her image was bleared, as if I were staring at it through a watery lens"

    similar: becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blur, cloud, darken, dim, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, obscure, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud
    related: adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade, camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil
    opposite: brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten
    near: expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Blear

The most common words with a similar meaning to Blear:

bleary, blurry, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy, hazy, indefinite, indistinct, indistinguishable, misty, murky, nebulous, obscure, opaque, pale, shadowy, unclear, undefined, undetermined, vague, becloud, bedim, befog, blacken, blur, cloud, darken, dislimn, fog, fuzz (up), haze, mist, overcast, overcloud, overshadow, shadow, shroud

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Blear

Words with the opposite meaning of Blear:

clear, definite, pellucid, brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up), lighten

Related Words for Blear

dark, dusky, gloomy, impalpable, inappreciable, intangible, invisible, hieroglyphic, incomprehensible, indecipherable, indiscernible, inexplicable, mysterious, obfuscatory, puzzling, adumbrate, blot out, conceal, eclipse, hide, obliterate, screen, shade, camouflage, cloak, cover, curtain, disguise, mask, veil

Near Antonyms of Blear

bright, distinct, evident, obvious, plain, certain, firm, strong, sure, expose, reveal, uncover, unveil

Word Forms of Blear

Inflections: bleared, blearing, blears

Origin & Etymology of Blear

Middle English bleren, probably from Old English *blerian; akin to Low German bleer-oged bleary-eyed

First known use: 14th century

Words & Phrases Containing Blear

blear-eyed

Frequently Asked Questions about Blear

What does "Blear" mean?

"Blear" means to make (the eyes) sore or watery. As an a verb and an adjective, it is defined as: to make (the eyes) sore or watery. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Blear"?

Other words for "Blear" include bleary, blurry, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy and hazy. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Blear" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Blear"?

There are 69 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Blear". Common alternatives include bleary, blurry, dim, faint, foggy, fuzzy, gauzy, hazy, indefinite and indistinct.

What is the opposite of "Blear"?

Antonyms of "Blear" include clear, definite, pellucid, brighten, illuminate, illumine, light (up) and lighten. Near antonyms include bright, distinct, evident and obvious.

How do you use "Blear" in a sentence?

Examples of "Blear" in a sentence: "I can't describe him; all I saw was a blear figure for an instant"; "her image was bleared, as if I were staring at it through a watery lens".

Is "Blear" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Blear" can be used as a verb and an adjective, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Blear"?

"Blear" is pronounced /ˈblir/.

What is the origin of the word "Blear"?

"Blear" comes from Middle English bleren, probably from Old English *blerian; akin to Low German bleer-oged bleary-eyed. First known use: 14th century.