Synonyms for specify
ˈspɛs əˌfaɪspec·i·fy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specify

   To state (Latin sto, stand) is to set forth explicitly, formally, or particularly in speech or writing. Assert (Latin ad, to, and sero, bind) is strongly personal, signifying to state boldly and positively what the one making the statement has not attempted and may not attempt to prove. Affirm has less of egotism than assert (as seen in the word self-assertion), coming nearer to aver. It has more solemnity than declare, and more composure and dignity than asseverate, which is to assert excitedly. In legal usage, affirm has a general agreement with depose and testify; it differs from swear in not invoking the name of God. To assure is to state with such authority and confidence as the speaker feels ought to make the hearer sure. Certify is more formal, and applies rather to written documents or legal processes. Assure, certify, inform, apply to the person; affirm, etc., to the thing. Assert is combative; assure is conciliatory. I assert my right to cross the river; I assure my friend it is perfectly safe. To aver is to state positively what is within one's own knowledge or matter of deep conviction. One may assert himself, or assert his right to what he is willing to contend for; or he may assert in discussion what he is ready to maintain by argument or evidence. To assert without proof is always to lay oneself open to the suspicion of having no proof to offer, and seems to arrogate too much to one's personal authority, and hence in such cases both the verb assert and its noun assertion have an unfavorable sense; we say a mere assertion, a bare assertion, his unsupported assertion; he asserted his innocence has less force than he affirmed or maintained his innocence. Affirm, state, and tell have not the controversial sense of assert, but are simply declarative. To vindicate is to defend successfully what is assailed. Almost every criminal will assert his innocence; the honest man will seldom lack means to vindicate his integrity.

   Synonyms:
   affirm, allege, assert, asseverate, assure, aver, avouch, avow, certify, claim, declare, depose, express, inform, maintain, predicate, pronounce, propound, protest, say, set forth, state, swear, tell, testify

   Antonyms:
   contradict, contravene, controvert, deny, disprove, dispute, gainsay, oppose, refute, repudiate, retract, waive

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specify

   Synonyms:
   particularize, individualize, indicate, designate, detail, determine, state, enumerate, mention

   Antonyms:
   generalize, classify, amalgamate, confound

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. stipulate, qualify, condition, specifyverb

   specify as a condition or requirement in a contract or agreement; make an express demand or provision in an agreement

   "The will stipulates that she can live in the house for the rest of her life"; "The contract stipulates the dates of the payments"

   Synonyms:
   particularise, modify, characterize, qualify, narrow, fix, characterise, delineate, pin down, dispose, determine, particularize, assign, define, train, intend, nail down, destine, designate, specialize, delimit, specialise, discipline, restrict, measure up, set apart, delimitate, stipulate, limit, set, condition, peg down, narrow down, check

   Antonyms:
   generalize, generalise

2. specify, set, determine, define, fix, limitverb

   decide upon or fix definitely

   "fix the variables"; "specify the parameters"

   Synonyms:
   specialise, particularise, localize, restore, make, gear up, fructify, doctor, sterilise, coiffure, cook, mend, delimitate, delimit, mold, peg down, put, fixate, regulate, do, unsex, posit, condition, place, learn, fix, countersink, arrange, make up one's mind, desexualise, set up, define, desexualize, pay back, lay, plant, coif, dress, ready, trammel, localise, ascertain, mark, circumscribe, go under, square up, check, correct, secure, nail down, repair, delineate, particularize, set, position, decide, touch on, find out, see, sic, square off, limit, jell, restrict, prepare, destine, situate, coiffe, find, throttle, deposit, furbish up, get, pose, pin down, influence, typeset, rig, sterilize, qualify, bound, determine, narrow, set apart, desex, narrow down, watch, go down, congeal, intend, assign, confine, fasten, pay off, bushel, stipulate, restrain, shape, settle, lay out, specialize, adjust, designate

   Antonyms:
   generalise, generalize

3. specify, define, delineate, delimit, delimitateverb

   determine the essential quality of

   Synonyms:
   particularise, qualify, narrow, nail down, describe, outline, demarcate, delineate, pin down, determine, particularize, assign, intend, destine, designate, specialize, limn, delimit, specialise, stipulate, line, subtend, delimitate, draw, define, limit, trace, set, condition, peg down, fix, narrow down, set apart

   Antonyms:
   generalize, generalise

4. specify, particularize, particularise, specialize, specialiseverb

   be specific about

   "Could you please specify your criticism of my paper?"

   Synonyms:
   stipulate, set apart, specialize, destine, set, delimit, specialise, condition, speciate, particularize, designate, delineate, determine, define, delimitate, narrow, qualify, fix, peg down, narrow down, nail down, assign, differentiate, intend, limit, pin down, particularise

   Antonyms:
   generalise, generalize

5. pin down, peg down, nail down, narrow down, narrow, specifyverb

   define clearly

   "I cannot narrow down the rules for this game"

   Synonyms:
   particularise, constrict, qualify, narrow, pin up, destine, nail, peg down, fix, trap, delineate, pin down, determine, particularize, assign, define, finalise, intend, nail down, contract, designate, specialize, delimit, specialise, constringe, peg, set apart, delimitate, stipulate, limit, set, condition, finalize, narrow down, settle

   Antonyms:
   generalize, generalise

6. intend, destine, designate, specifyverb

   design or destine

   "She was intended to become the director"

   Synonyms:
   fate, qualify, narrow, peg down, show, fix, nail down, delineate, stand for, point, pin down, doom, determine, indicate, particularize, assign, think, intend, signify, delegate, destine, designate, specialize, mean, depute, delimit, specialise, stipulate, delimitate, define, limit, denominate, condition, particularise, set, narrow down, set apart

   Antonyms:
   generalize, generalise

7. assign, specify, set apartverb

   select something or someone for a specific purpose

   "The teacher assigned him to lead his classmates in the exercise"

   Synonyms:
   sequester, particularise, qualify, narrow, put, portion, fix, allot, delineate, pin down, determine, particularize, assign, define, ascribe, intend, sequestrate, arrogate, nail down, delegate, destine, designate, specialize, depute, delimit, specialise, attribute, set apart, impute, delimitate, keep apart, stipulate, limit, set, condition, peg down, isolate, narrow down

   Antonyms:
   generalize, generalise

Matched Categories

1. • Be
   • Choose
   • Plan

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specifyverb

   Synonyms:
   designate, particularize, indicate, define, individualize, show clearly, name with precision

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. specifyverb

   Synonyms:
   designate, particularize, individualize, name

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "specify":

   specifies, specifying, clarify, specified, enter, indicate, specification, identify, define, stipulate, clarifying, refine, determine

How to pronounce specify?

How to say specify in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

1. 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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use specify in a sentence?

1. General Director Alexander Pavlov:

   I can't specify the number of these consumers, but since the beginning of 2014 they have increased significantly.

2. Francis M. Faber Jr.:

   Did the famous shipbuilder, Donald Mackay specify as 'right' or'left' when describing the 'yardarms' on the masts of his globe-girdling China Clipper sailing ships?

3. Mary Schiavo:

   The airline has the right to substitute equipment, if you could book a 737 500, and you find out it's a 737 MAX, technically they don't have to honor your request. ... So you don't have a right to specify you are not going to go on a 737 MAX.

4. Marcelo Ebrard:

   It's very important to persevere, to specify, clarify and demand that measures are taken so that this is not repeated, and the first measure is to classify it for what it is, an act of terrorism that seeks to take Mexican lives.

5. Mick Lloyd Kerman:

   A doctor can bury his mistakes but a supplier based engineer can only advise the product designer to specify a heavier texture.