1
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to characterize
to be an important feature of
a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to identify
to find out or establish the identity of
learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinguish
What distinguishes Union County from a standard addiction narrative is that Poulter and Centineo are flanked by nonactors, the overall effect hovering somewhere between fiction and nonfiction.
—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
What distinguishes American English from its counterpart across the pond?
—
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
Tech industry analyst Ben Bajarin said investors should distinguish between two very different kinds of compute businesses.
—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
And this is precisely what distinguishes the constitutional question in Humphrey’s from the question in Myers.
—
George Thomas,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
1 July 2026
What distinguishes American English from its counterpart across the pond?
—
Literary Hub,
1 July 2026
Tech industry analyst Ben Bajarin said investors should distinguish between two very different kinds of compute businesses.
—
Paulina Likos,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
And this is precisely what distinguishes the constitutional question in Humphrey’s from the question in Myers.
—
George Thomas,
The Atlantic,
30 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish
Verb
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What’s even more striking is the fact that the Puerto Rican scalloped hammerheads were not only differentiated from the Northwest Atlantic population, but also showed genetic separation from populations sampled in Belize and Brazil!
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Can voters differentiate between two candidates with the same name?
Verb
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The new style of challenger often rises from outside the traditional civil rights and organizing structures that characterized some communities for decades.
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These roles, while potentially stable, are characterized by a lack of learning, advancement, or a fear of leaving.
Verb
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To combat bots, Ticketmaster, the primary ticketing platform for many concerts, blocks automated software, identifies and shuts down fake accounts and cancels orders that violate its policies.
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Its unusual structure was first identified by a citizen scientist participating in the RAD@home Astronomy Collaboratory, which allows volunteers to review telescope data and flag unusual features that might otherwise be missed.
Verb
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Rest, review, and notice what keeps repeating in your mind.
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Some of you may notice that income streams are shifting, checks are being delayed or there are confusing charges on your accounts.
Verb
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Companies need to have an airtight hold on their own sourcing data—an understanding not only of where the materials and inputs are coming from, but how to substantiate their claims and classify customs entries with precision.
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Gambling disorder is now classified in the same section in the DSM as substance abuse disorders because of the similarities in clinical presentation and treatment.
Verb
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Analysts made their careers on discerning the Fed’s decisions by studying buying and selling in the bond market.
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Venus enters discerning Virgo on July 9, bringing love, money and self-worth back down to earth.
Verb
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Ease off the accelerator - Step off the gas to slow down the vehicle until the tires find traction.
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His attorneys contend the containers found on Pino’s boat were collected from other friends’ vessels partying with them on the sandbar that day.
Verb
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As adult influencers dominate online fashion culture, and tweens and teens see the same content as adults, there are fewer spaces for young people to develop styles of their own.
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Messi was trying to get a ball away from an Algerian player when he was seen digging his cleat into the back of the player’s calf.
Cite this Entry
“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinguish. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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