1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
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3
as in accolade
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
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4
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
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6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
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7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
The Supporters’ Shield is given for the best regular-season record -- but that distinction turned bittersweet fast when Miami then stunningly lost to Atlanta in the first round of the MLS playoffs.
—
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
Saturday night’s 9-2 loss, which featured Carlos Mendoza’s first ejection as Mets manager and led to a players’ meeting, overtook the completely-unofficial-yet-nonetheless-dubious distinction.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 29 June 2025
This accomplishment was decades in the making, but Winfrey also had the distinction of being the first Black woman on the billionaire list, reported The Ledger.
—Diane J. Cho, People.com, 28 June 2025
LeBron James retains the distinction of being the youngest player in league history to be taken with the top overall pick.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 29 June 2025
Saturday night’s 9-2 loss, which featured Carlos Mendoza’s first ejection as Mets manager and led to a players’ meeting, overtook the completely-unofficial-yet-nonetheless-dubious distinction.
—Will Sammon, New York Times, 29 June 2025
This accomplishment was decades in the making, but Winfrey also had the distinction of being the first Black woman on the billionaire list, reported The Ledger.
—Diane J. Cho, People.com, 28 June 2025
LeBron James retains the distinction of being the youngest player in league history to be taken with the top overall pick.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
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The series has also won two Annie Awards, for excellence in the field of animation, in 2023 and 2025 in the category of Best Animated Television/Media Production for Preschool Children.—
Debbie Day,
EW.com,
26 June 2025
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This reality drives the team’s commitment to excellence, with Jordan emphasizing the importance of ensuring every guest leaves on a positive note.—
Kimberly Wilson,
Essence,
26 June 2025
Noun
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The underlying numbers, however, show that Guatemala really maximized its opportunity after gaining a numerical advantage.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
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Do Exclusive Giveaways And Conduct Follow-Up Bake exclusivity into a giveaway and track which loyal customers take advantage.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Noun
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With a growing list of accolades, Lui and Wong are leading a new wave of emotionally intelligent, human-centric design in Asia and beyond.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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Domestically and individually, the 31-year-old has collected every accolade — two Ballons d’Or, two FIFA The Best awards, three Champions Leagues and nine Liga F titles with Barcelona.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Dominating Grocery Walmart’s dominance is most pronounced in grocery.—
Pamela N. Danziger,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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This launched an era of dominance with a string of classic main events.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 June 2025
Noun
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This means taking positive press mentions or third-party validation (like interviews, features or awards) and weaving them into email campaigns, sales decks or social posts to build trust with new audiences. 3.—
Gianluca Ferruggia,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The maximum possible award was $7,395 during the 2024-25 school year.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
1 July 2025
Noun
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What’s the difference between a virtual safety car and an actual safety car?—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
27 June 2025
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There are distinct differences in the metal leaching and profiles across all three brands, Poulin shared.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Zen training also induces samadhi (i.e., the experience of no separation), giving rise to wisdom and harmony with the larger picture.—
Ginny Whitelaw,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The sheer finish acts as a great base to layer makeup on, without the worry of separation.—
Cierra Black,
Essence,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
12 Nov. 2024
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Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
12 Nov. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.
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