tell the difference
idiom
: to see how two or more people or things are unlike each other
It's hard to tell the difference between one action movie and another.
The new version is supposed to be much better than the old one, but I can't tell the difference (between them).
Examples of tell the difference in a Sentence
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If pathogens camouflage themselves successfully, this can lead to a sort of biological friendly fire, in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells, unable to tell the difference between an invading pathogen and what was already there.
—
Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Centipedes Versus Millipedes Most people can’t tell the difference between a centipede and a millipede, another multi-legged creature that needs moisture to thrive.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025
The average crypto user still cannot tell the difference between a custodial, semi-custodial, or non-custodial wallet.
—Chris Groshong, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The average eye, though, would never be able to tell the difference.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
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Katie Hunt, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2025
Centipedes Versus Millipedes Most people can’t tell the difference between a centipede and a millipede, another multi-legged creature that needs moisture to thrive.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2025
The average crypto user still cannot tell the difference between a custodial, semi-custodial, or non-custodial wallet.
—Chris Groshong, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The average eye, though, would never be able to tell the difference.
—Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
Cite this Entry
“Tell the difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tell%20the%20difference. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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