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
Recent Examples on the Web
Here's how to tell the difference between harmless crystals and signs of spoiled cheese, plus how to store your cheese properly to keep it tasting its best.
—
Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Maduro would be forgiven for not being able to tell the difference between the grounds for a pardon and the grounds for an invasion.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
People can tell the difference, should be able to tell the difference between something that is unlawful and something that is lawful.
—NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Concocted legality Most officers can tell the difference between orders that uphold our values and those that contradict them.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tell the difference
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Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
Maduro would be forgiven for not being able to tell the difference between the grounds for a pardon and the grounds for an invasion.
—Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
People can tell the difference, should be able to tell the difference between something that is unlawful and something that is lawful.
—NBC news, 30 Nov. 2025
Concocted legality Most officers can tell the difference between orders that uphold our values and those that contradict them.
—Jon Duffy, Mercury News, 29 Nov. 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 13 Dec. 2025.
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