1
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
too young to discern between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discern
Because contemporary phantoms of Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and Rolex are expertly constructed to entice even the most discerning eye, provenance is crucial.
—
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The social and cultural calendars of discerning art collectors in Abu Dhabi and the Hamptons will be enhanced with two new events over the next 12 months.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
The vague notification of a pending strike left the military to discern on its own that subsequent explosions in Qatar were the result of Israeli action.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
Each duo might be destined or mismatched; the question is how to discern the difference.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
The social and cultural calendars of discerning art collectors in Abu Dhabi and the Hamptons will be enhanced with two new events over the next 12 months.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 10 Sep. 2025
The vague notification of a pending strike left the military to discern on its own that subsequent explosions in Qatar were the result of Israeli action.
—Anne Flaherty, ABC News, 9 Sep. 2025
Each duo might be destined or mismatched; the question is how to discern the difference.
—Sheri Linden, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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While the container comes with a month's worth of capsules, many reviewers noticed results way sooner.—
Gabriela Izquierdo,
Southern Living,
17 Sep. 2025
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Most notably the Democrats in Nevada's congressional delegation noticed.—
Peter J Reilly,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The market didn’t seem to differentiate between the few Chinese pharmaceutical names manufactured in the US.—
Brendan Ahern,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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What differentiates these drugs is less a matter of their purpose, and more a matter of how our laws and media treat these drugs.—
P.E. Moskowitz
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Your smartphone's voice assistant struggles to understand your accent but works perfectly for others.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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While parenting responsibilities are widely understood and sometimes better supported in the workplace, senior care still has a long way to go, Zlotsky said.—
Madeline Mitchell,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Lerner says some customers see savings of 30 to 50 percent in their first month.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
13 Sep. 2025
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This announcement came as a bit of a shock, given The Vampire Diaries actor and Olympic gold medalist had been seen holding hands at an outdoor market as recently as August 31.—
Emily Tannenbaum,
Glamour,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Innovating Under Constraints What distinguishes Aravind is not merely his technical expertise, but his strategic approach.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 Sep. 2025
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The platform delivers several breakthrough capabilities that distinguish it from traditional object storage solutions.—
Steve McDowell,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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With the big night almost here, here's what to know about the award ceremony and how to watch it.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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Your wallet — and your customer service experience — will depend on knowing the difference.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Soldiers have also been spotted in parks carrying out tasks typically assigned to gardeners and landscapers – shoveling mulch, blowing leaves and scooping up trash.—
Cybele Mayes-Osterman,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
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On third-and-2 at the CU 20, the Buffs QB hurried left with seemingly the entire Houston defense in pursuit, spotted Omarion Miller just past the line of scrimmage, and shoveled him the ball before the red jerseys closed in.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Teams of researchers are trying to use AI to decipher these rumbles.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
7 Sep. 2025
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Researchers from each, plus the United States, were attempting to decipher the challenges presented by opposing either a regime or a decaying democracy.—
Ron Scherf,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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