Synonyms for plain
pleɪn

Princeton's WordNet(3.00 / 1 vote)Rate these synonyms:

1. plain, field, champaign(noun)

   extensive tract of level open land

   "they emerged from the woods onto a vast open plain"; "he longed for the fields of his youth"

   Synonyms:
   plain stitch, sphere, field of study, champaign, knit stitch, battlefield, flying field, subject area, study, playing area, area, force field, subject, theater of operations, field of operation, knit, theatre of operations, field of honor, bailiwick, field of view, theatre, battleground, subject field, airfield, playing field, theater, field of force, athletic field, discipline, landing field, field of operations, domain, line of business, arena, field, field of battle, orbit

   Antonyms:
   venose, violet-streaked, stripy, speckled, patched, purple-spotted, pointillist, vermiculated, elaborate, brinded, attractive, yellow-marked, slashed, mottled, indirect, fussy, dressy, veined, black-marked, castled, red-striped, streaked, stippled, white-streaked, damascene, tabby, freckled, pointillistic, banded, brownish-striped, striped, dappled, baroque, burled, yellow-banded, flamboyant, battlemented, fantastic, floral, lentiginose, brindled, moire, streaky, brown-speckled, fancy, brindle, impure, sprigged, busy, aureate, maroon-spotted, puff, spotted, tessellated, cross-banded, marbleised, checked, marbleized, red-streaked, laced, adorned, lacy, blotchy, embattled, blotched, chequered, checkered, yellow-spotted, watered, reddish-striped, dark-spotted, black-barred, flecked, marbled, white-blotched, florid, churrigueresque, dotted, brownish-speckled, brown-striped, black-and-tan, veinlike, figured, decorated, lentiginous, vermicular, unobvious, flowered, specked, spotty, patterned, purple-veined, churrigueresco, damask, castellated, tiger-striped, ringed, crackle, yellow-striped, puffed, luxuriant, fanciful, pinstriped, white-ribbed, rococo, vermiculate, lacelike, splotched

2. knit, knit stitch, plain, plain stitch(adj)

   a basic knitting stitch

   Synonyms:
   plain stitch, champaign, knit, field, knitting, knit stitch, knitwork

   Antonyms:
   fanciful, vermiculated, baroque, patterned, impure, flamboyant, battlemented, decorated, ringed, vermiculate, fussy, checked, brown-speckled, checkered, venose, maroon-spotted, florid, brown-striped, dotted, damascene, streaky, busy, marbleised, stippled, aureate, floral, puff, reddish-striped, spotty, purple-spotted, slashed, crackle, burled, brownish-speckled, marbled, puffed, black-barred, patched, flowered, specked, elaborate, yellow-banded, white-streaked, streaked, spotted, unobvious, adorned, black-marked, yellow-striped, banded, speckled, rococo, lentiginose, sprigged, yellow-spotted, chequered, pointillist, flecked, dappled, mottled, veinlike, marbleized, brindle, white-blotched, purple-veined, red-streaked, yellow-marked, pointillistic, splotched, fantastic, moire, fancy, churrigueresco, churrigueresque, brindled, castled, damask, embattled, pinstriped, lentiginous, indirect, tabby, attractive, castellated, dressy, lacy, watered, veined, freckled, stripy, luxuriant, brownish-striped, tessellated, cross-banded, blotchy, white-ribbed, brinded, red-striped, blotched, striped, vermicular, laced, figured, black-and-tan, tiger-striped, dark-spotted, violet-streaked, lacelike

3. apparent, evident, manifest, patent, plain, unmistakable(adj)

   clearly revealed to the mind or the senses or judgment

   "the effects of the drought are apparent to anyone who sees the parched fields"; "evident hostility"; "manifest disapproval"; "patent advantages"; "made his meaning plain"; "it is plain that he is no reactionary"; "in plain view"

   Synonyms:
   unembellished, observable, apparent, ostensible, spare, apparent(a), unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, unmistakable, discernible, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, evident, unpatterned, bare, seeming(a)

   Antonyms:
   venose, laced, elaborate, dressy, pointillistic, castellated, brinded, marbleized, veinlike, fussy, white-blotched, black-and-tan, tessellated, flamboyant, embattled, florid, dappled, tabby, brownish-striped, fancy, indirect, maroon-spotted, watered, blotchy, lentiginose, spotty, mottled, cross-banded, purple-spotted, black-barred, blotched, splotched, damascene, violet-streaked, chequered, damask, purple-veined, marbled, lentiginous, battlemented, vermiculate, rococo, flecked, tiger-striped, yellow-striped, puff, brownish-speckled, dark-spotted, stripy, checkered, black-marked, brown-speckled, veined, white-ribbed, busy, moire, vermiculated, lacy, pinstriped, attractive, patterned, brindle, baroque, checked, brindled, patched, stippled, spotted, churrigueresco, burled, fantastic, red-striped, dotted, flowered, figured, freckled, crackle, reddish-striped, castled, marbleised, banded, decorated, aureate, yellow-banded, adorned, pointillist, white-streaked, yellow-spotted, lacelike, streaky, yellow-marked, red-streaked, puffed, floral, sprigged, specked, churrigueresque, speckled, striped, streaked, impure, vermicular, fanciful, ringed, luxuriant, slashed, unobvious, brown-striped

4. plain(adj)

   not elaborate or elaborated; simple

   "plain food"; "stuck to the plain facts"; "a plain blue suit"; "a plain rectangular brick building"

   Synonyms:
   unornamented, evident, unvarnished, sheer, homely, bare, unmixed, unembellished, unmingled, manifest, unmistakable, spare, patent, apparent, unpatterned

   Antonyms:
   impure, flamboyant, tabby, white-blotched, white-ribbed, florid, brownish-striped, flecked, mottled, laced, red-striped, aureate, tiger-striped, patched, stippled, dark-spotted, dappled, streaked, vermiculate, banded, blotchy, chequered, striped, luxuriant, attractive, figured, violet-streaked, white-streaked, dotted, decorated, burled, patterned, brindle, purple-veined, lentiginous, vermicular, cross-banded, unobvious, ringed, purple-spotted, damascene, black-marked, crackle, black-barred, churrigueresque, freckled, fanciful, veinlike, fantastic, yellow-spotted, castellated, brownish-speckled, reddish-striped, streaky, castled, yellow-marked, splotched, baroque, lentiginose, spotted, flowered, marbled, checkered, veined, stripy, churrigueresco, moire, floral, marbleized, dressy, checked, specked, yellow-striped, lacy, brindled, yellow-banded, black-and-tan, damask, vermiculated, brown-striped, indirect, watered, tessellated, adorned, fancy, red-streaked, sprigged, pinstriped, venose, fussy, blotched, puffed, pointillist, battlemented, maroon-spotted, brinded, embattled, elaborate, marbleised, slashed, rococo, brown-speckled, speckled, spotty, busy, pointillistic, puff, lacelike

5. plain, unpatterned(adj)

   lacking patterns especially in color

   Synonyms:
   unornamented, evident, unvarnished, sheer, homely, bare, unmixed, unembellished, unmingled, manifest, unmistakable, spare, patent, apparent, unpatterned

   Antonyms:
   lentiginose, marbled, tessellated, sprigged, yellow-marked, yellow-striped, yellow-spotted, impure, busy, purple-veined, brownish-striped, red-striped, striped, tabby, battlemented, cross-banded, veinlike, freckled, checked, stippled, streaked, damask, puffed, red-streaked, churrigueresco, lacy, patterned, brindle, rococo, burled, veined, flowered, lentiginous, yellow-banded, fantastic, aureate, white-blotched, pointillist, streaky, lacelike, mottled, black-barred, floral, spotty, splotched, brown-striped, castled, pointillistic, elaborate, black-marked, specked, florid, reddish-striped, dressy, checkered, dotted, venose, attractive, decorated, blotchy, fussy, moire, black-and-tan, stripy, adorned, vermicular, castellated, brindled, blotched, patched, fanciful, tiger-striped, churrigueresque, chequered, vermiculate, vermiculated, white-ribbed, marbleized, dark-spotted, damascene, flecked, crackle, spotted, watered, white-streaked, brown-speckled, fancy, laced, indirect, dappled, luxuriant, marbleised, pinstriped, embattled, flamboyant, unobvious, banded, brinded, baroque, brownish-speckled, purple-spotted, maroon-spotted, speckled, ringed, slashed, puff, figured, violet-streaked

6. plain, sheer, unmingled, unmixed(adj)

   not mixed with extraneous elements

   "plain water"; "sheer wine"; "not an unmixed blessing"

   Synonyms:
   evident, bare, spare, gauzy, downright, unpatterned, uncompounded, cobwebby, unmixed, unornamented, vapourous, right-down, out-and-out(a), manifest, patent, absolute, vaporous, homely, see-through, unmingled, unvarnished, rank(a), gossamer, bluff, sheer(a), diaphanous, sheer, apparent, bold, filmy, gauze-like, unembellished, transparent, unmistakable

   Antonyms:
   brinded, blotched, veinlike, venose, fantastic, tessellated, crackle, yellow-striped, ringed, flecked, black-marked, patterned, splotched, vermicular, dappled, burled, streaky, indirect, veined, dressy, stripy, luxuriant, marbleised, floral, white-streaked, yellow-marked, busy, maroon-spotted, stippled, banded, lentiginose, vermiculate, castled, churrigueresque, pointillist, puff, cross-banded, purple-veined, black-barred, aureate, brindle, flowered, battlemented, puffed, checkered, white-blotched, brownish-speckled, lacelike, blotchy, brown-speckled, brownish-striped, sprigged, tabby, dotted, yellow-spotted, damascene, dark-spotted, unobvious, mottled, laced, watered, fancy, vermiculated, yellow-banded, black-and-tan, speckled, slashed, decorated, pointillistic, marbleized, baroque, checked, rococo, lentiginous, damask, striped, brown-striped, attractive, violet-streaked, embattled, lacy, impure, castellated, marbled, brindled, white-ribbed, red-streaked, streaked, spotty, moire, pinstriped, churrigueresco, patched, spotted, freckled, fanciful, fussy, florid, figured, red-striped, flamboyant, purple-spotted, adorned, chequered, elaborate, tiger-striped, reddish-striped, specked

7. plain, unvarnished(adj)

   free from any effort to soften to disguise

   "the plain and unvarnished truth"; "the unvarnished candor of old people and children"

   Synonyms:
   evident, unstained, apparent, spare, unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, bare, unmistakable, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, unpatterned, unembellished

   Antonyms:
   maroon-spotted, brown-striped, marbled, attractive, splotched, damascene, white-ribbed, lentiginous, laced, mottled, speckled, lacelike, moire, rococo, aureate, venose, patterned, tiger-striped, embattled, patched, brinded, red-streaked, lacy, stripy, puff, marbleised, black-and-tan, fancy, flamboyant, dotted, brindle, ringed, indirect, damask, black-barred, dark-spotted, elaborate, yellow-spotted, freckled, impure, figured, flecked, streaked, churrigueresco, tessellated, cross-banded, crackle, burled, puffed, specked, watered, veinlike, yellow-striped, chequered, yellow-marked, decorated, stippled, brownish-speckled, vermiculated, churrigueresque, veined, adorned, baroque, striped, checkered, brown-speckled, slashed, pinstriped, checked, yellow-banded, banded, white-blotched, marbleized, streaky, lentiginose, unobvious, spotted, brindled, red-striped, pointillist, fantastic, vermiculate, spotty, black-marked, flowered, floral, busy, fussy, fanciful, blotched, tabby, reddish-striped, violet-streaked, pointillistic, florid, dappled, vermicular, luxuriant, purple-spotted, castled, battlemented, brownish-striped, sprigged, white-streaked, dressy, purple-veined, castellated, blotchy

8. plain, bare, spare, unembellished, unornamented(adj)

   lacking embellishment or ornamentation

   "a plain hair style"; "unembellished white walls"; "functional architecture featuring stark unornamented concrete"

   Synonyms:
   evident, spare, bare(a), unpatterned, supernumerary, unmixed, bleak, redundant, unornamented, superfluous, free, au naturel(p), bare, patent, surplus, stark, excess, simple(a), homely, trim, unmingled, stripped, desolate, supererogatory, mere(a), unvarnished, extra, sheer, apparent, nude, unsheathed, unfinished, barren, manifest, scanty, naked, marginal, unembellished, unmistakable

   Antonyms:
   striped, busy, battlemented, aureate, fantastic, stippled, brindle, burled, flowered, blotched, puffed, churrigueresque, watered, spotted, moire, damask, banded, rococo, brown-striped, speckled, patterned, brindled, laced, pointillist, yellow-striped, marbleised, marbleized, decorated, purple-veined, white-streaked, sprigged, pinstriped, yellow-marked, slashed, checked, vermicular, brownish-striped, cross-banded, tiger-striped, dressy, lacelike, mottled, crackle, floral, fussy, castellated, figured, black-and-tan, dark-spotted, vermiculated, purple-spotted, castled, flamboyant, streaked, dappled, indirect, brinded, tessellated, adorned, pointillistic, puff, marbled, white-ribbed, ringed, blotchy, yellow-banded, white-blotched, unobvious, florid, black-barred, elaborate, lentiginous, patched, damascene, fanciful, embattled, spotty, chequered, veinlike, red-striped, freckled, black-marked, flecked, checkered, luxuriant, attractive, stripy, maroon-spotted, reddish-striped, venose, tabby, vermiculate, veined, violet-streaked, churrigueresco, fancy, red-streaked, impure, baroque, dotted, streaky, brown-speckled, splotched, brownish-speckled, lentiginose, specked, lacy, yellow-spotted

9. homely, plain(verb)

   lacking in physical beauty or proportion

   "a homely child"; "several of the buildings were downright homely"; "a plain girl with a freckled face"

   Synonyms:
   unembellished, evident, apparent, homy, homey, spare, unornamented, patent, sheer, homely, unmistakable, unmingled, manifest, unvarnished, unmixed, homelike, unpatterned, bare

   Antonyms:
   brinded, yellow-spotted, fantastic, venose, brindled, lentiginose, freckled, dotted, lentiginous, vermicular, puff, indirect, damask, striped, busy, fussy, stripy, marbleized, patterned, purple-spotted, patched, spotty, white-blotched, brownish-speckled, speckled, watered, flecked, marbleised, brownish-striped, lacelike, vermiculate, violet-streaked, attractive, battlemented, checkered, pointillist, churrigueresco, decorated, red-striped, splotched, yellow-marked, banded, unobvious, figured, chequered, white-streaked, fancy, burled, spotted, fanciful, streaky, vermiculated, flamboyant, cross-banded, specked, flowered, veinlike, castled, moire, puffed, pointillistic, mottled, white-ribbed, lacy, tabby, elaborate, yellow-banded, luxuriant, yellow-striped, pinstriped, black-barred, maroon-spotted, dappled, black-marked, black-and-tan, baroque, floral, florid, churrigueresque, sprigged, reddish-striped, crackle, laced, marbled, brown-striped, brown-speckled, ringed, tessellated, adorned, slashed, blotched, embattled, tiger-striped, stippled, streaked, impure, dark-spotted, purple-veined, damascene, aureate, red-streaked, dressy, blotchy, checked, rococo, veined, brindle, castellated

10. complain, kick, plain, sound off, quetch, kvetch(adverb)

    express complaints, discontent, displeasure, or unhappiness

    "My mother complains all day"; "She has a lot to kick about"

    Synonyms:
    recoil, kvetch, quetch, give up, kick, strike up, kick back, animadvert, complain, speak out, sound off, opine, speak up

    Antonyms:
    slashed, maroon-spotted, churrigueresque, tiger-striped, fancy, banded, busy, impure, violet-streaked, tessellated, adorned, damascene, white-ribbed, pointillist, specked, churrigueresco, black-marked, mottled, lacelike, streaked, splotched, black-barred, spotty, brownish-speckled, yellow-striped, unobvious, embattled, red-streaked, floral, cross-banded, purple-veined, marbleized, brown-striped, elaborate, white-blotched, flecked, pinstriped, florid, checkered, veinlike, yellow-banded, chequered, indirect, damask, marbled, purple-spotted, vermiculate, white-streaked, fantastic, castled, dark-spotted, battlemented, laced, figured, puff, moire, luxuriant, vermiculated, tabby, brindle, sprigged, watered, brindled, lacy, venose, dappled, pointillistic, veined, marbleised, brown-speckled, lentiginous, flowered, stripy, blotched, blotchy, dressy, dotted, black-and-tan, red-striped, patterned, checked, vermicular, castellated, decorated, aureate, stippled, fussy, attractive, streaky, yellow-marked, baroque, burled, brinded, ringed, flamboyant, crackle, spotted, reddish-striped, freckled, speckled, brownish-striped, lentiginose, puffed, rococo, patched, striped, yellow-spotted, fanciful

11. obviously, evidently, manifestly, patently, apparently, plainly, plain(adverb)

    unmistakably (`plain' is often used informally for `plainly')

    "the answer is obviously wrong"; "she was in bed and evidently in great pain"; "he was manifestly too important to leave off the guest list"; "it is all patently nonsense"; "she has apparently been living here for some time"; "I thought he owned the property, but apparently not"; "You are plainly wrong"; "he is plain stubborn"

    Synonyms:
    ostensibly, manifestly, plainly, patently, simply, seemingly, on the face of it, evidently, apparently, obviously

    Antonyms:
    spotted, black-and-tan, pointillist, lacelike, brindle, streaky, baroque, vermicular, lentiginose, checkered, elaborate, violet-streaked, stripy, slashed, dark-spotted, cross-banded, castled, mottled, pointillistic, sprigged, churrigueresco, dotted, blotched, adorned, stippled, marbleized, marbled, spotty, white-blotched, marbleised, watered, maroon-spotted, brinded, streaked, florid, blotchy, embattled, flamboyant, red-striped, rococo, battlemented, fancy, decorated, veined, figured, aureate, vermiculate, moire, brown-speckled, specked, unobvious, crackle, reddish-striped, yellow-banded, ringed, lacy, tessellated, impure, brownish-speckled, patched, fussy, floral, freckled, tabby, damask, dappled, yellow-spotted, venose, black-marked, flowered, lentiginous, speckled, striped, attractive, burled, purple-spotted, indirect, puffed, chequered, castellated, splotched, brownish-striped, purple-veined, brindled, vermiculated, dressy, tiger-striped, veinlike, red-streaked, brown-striped, luxuriant, fantastic, checked, busy, laced, churrigueresque, white-ribbed, black-barred, puff, pinstriped, fanciful, flecked, patterned, damascene, white-streaked, yellow-marked, banded, yellow-striped

English Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. plain

   Clear (Latin clarus, bright, brilliant) primarily refers to that which shines, and impresses the mind through the eye with a sense of luster or splendor. A substance is said to be clear that offers no impediment to vision — is not dim, dark, or obscure. Transparent refers to the medium through which a substance is seen, clear to the substance itself, without reference to anything to be seen through it; we speak of a stream as clear when we think of the water itself; we speak of it as transparent with reference to the ease with which we see the pebbles at the bottom. Clear is also said of that which comes to the senses without dimness, dulness, obstruction, or obscurity, so that there is no uncertainty as to its exact form, character, or meaning, with something of the brightness or brilliancy implied in the primary meaning of the word clear; as, the outlines of the ship were clear against the sky; a clear view; a clear note; "clear as a bell;" a clear, frosty air; a clear sky; a clear statement; hence, the word is used for that which is free from any kind of obstruction; as, a clear field. Lucid and pellucid refer to a shining clearness, as of crystal. A transparent body allows the forms and colors of objects beyond to be seen through it; a translucent body allows light to pass through, but may not permit forms and colors to be distinguished; plate glass is transparent, ground glass is translucent. Limpid refers to a liquid clearness, or that which suggests it; as, limpid streams. That which is distinct is well defined, especially in outline, each part or object standing or seeming apart from any other, not confused, indefinite, or blurred; distinct enunciation enables the hearer to catch every word or vocal sound without perplexity or confusion; a distinct statement is free from indefiniteness or ambiguity; a distinct apprehension of a thought leaves the mind in no doubt or uncertainty regarding it. That is plain, in the sense here considered, which is, as it were, level to the thought, so that one goes straight on without difficulty or hindrance; as, plain language; a plain statement; a clear explanation. Perspicuous is often equivalent to plain, but plain never wholly loses the meaning of unadorned, so that we can say the style is perspicuous tho highly ornate, when we could not call it at once ornate and plain. Compare EVIDENT.

   Synonyms:
   apparent, clear, diaphanous, distinct, evident, explicit, intelligible, limpid, lucid, manifest, obvious, pellucid, perspicuous, straightforward, translucent, transparent, unadorned, unambiguous, unequivocal, unmistakable

   Antonyms:
   ambiguous, cloudy, dim, dubious, foggy, indistinct, mysterious, obscure, opaque, turbid, unintelligible, vague

   Preposition:
   Clear to the mind; clear in argument; clear of or from annoyances.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and Antonyms(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. plain

   Synonyms:
   level, even, flat, smooth, open, clear, unencumbered, unobstructed, uninterrupted, manifest, evident, obvious, unmistakable, simple, easy, natural, unaffected, homely, unsophisticated, open, unvarnished, unembellished, unreserved, artless

   Antonyms:
   uneven, undulating, rugged, rough, abrupt, broken, confused, encumbered, obstructed, interrupted, questionable, uncertain, dubious, ambiguous, enigmatical, hard, abstruse, affected, fair, beautiful, sophisticated, artful, varnished, embellished

Dictionary of English Synonymes(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   even, level, smooth, flat, plane

2. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   manifest, visible, obvious, clear, unmistakable, apparent, certain, palpable, conspicuous, notable, notorious, glaring, patent, open, evident

3. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   unequivocal, unambiguous, distinct, explicit, intelligible, perspicuous

4. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   simple, unadorned, unvarnished

5. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   homely, ugly, ill-looking, ill-favored, not handsome

6. plain(a.)

   Synonyms:
   artless, natural, honest, sincere, candid, frank, open, downright, direct, unsophisticated, ingenuous, undesigning, straightforward, single-minded, open-hearted, above-board

7. plain(n.)

   Synonyms:
   plateau, champaign, savanna, pampas, tableland, champaign country

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these synonyms:

1. plain(a)

   Synonyms:
   evident, manifest, explicit, obvious, unmistakable, distinct, apparent, palpable, patent, unembellished, simple, austere, severe, ungarnished, unadorned, untrimmed, homely, uncomely, flat, level, even, smooth, plane, unaffected, simple, artless, outspoken, undesigning, ingenuous, unreserved, direct, frugal, homely, unvaried, unfigured, mere, absolute, unmistakable

   Antonyms:
   ambiguous, equivocal, indistinct, indecipherable, elaborate, luxurious, cryptic, abstruse, ornate, enigmatic, vague, inexplicable, obscure, complex, intricate, embellished

2. plain(adv)

   Synonyms:
   plainly, distinctly, bluntly, candidly, explicitly

3. plain(n)

   Synonyms:
   prairie, field, savanna, pampas, steppe, llano, champaign, campagna, heath, moor, camass, downs, tundra, veldt, peneplain

PPDB, the paraphrase database(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate these paraphrases:

1. List of paraphrases for "plain":

   plaine, ruzizi, plains, unformatted, clear, simple, lowland, floodplain, raw, yuhmur, plaines, ganges, obvious, plain-text, pure, easy, normal, flat, regular

How to pronounce plain?

How to say plain in sign language?

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How to use plain in a sentence?

1. Steven Young:

   It's a lot easier to take plain ice cream mix and' dress it up' to become eggnog. For all intents and purposes, that's what eggnog has been.

2. Hillary Clinton:

   I know that there have been a lot of questions about Iraq posed to candidates over the last weeks. I've made it very clear that I made a mistake, plain and simple, and I have written about it in my book. I've talked about it in the past.

3. Roger Kay:

   The CIA director was just plain stupid to use a common service like AOL for sensitive communications.He really should have known better.

4. Ann Wagner:

   This wasn't just happening in other countries, it's hiding in plain sight in our own country.

5. Bruce Ackerman:

   It does not remotely pose the same danger as the support of all Republican candidates, with the exception of Rand Paul, for President Obama’s unilateral war against ISIS in plain violation of the Constitution.

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