Synonym Chooser

How is the word different different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of different are disparate, divergent, diverse, and various. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When could disparate be used to replace different?

The words disparate and different are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When can divergent be used instead of different?

Although the words divergent and different have much in common, divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

In what contexts can diverse take the place of different?

In some situations, the words diverse and different are roughly equivalent. However, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

Where would various be a reasonable alternative to different?

While in some cases nearly identical to different, various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of different In his next four starts, Taillon has looked like a different pitcher. Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 There’s plenty of beach to go around in Florida, each with a different appeal. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025 The ability of the government to cross-reference personal information using databases from different agencies is tightly regulated under the US Privacy Act. Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025 Some places might have a better view of the alignment on different days. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for different
Recent Examples of Synonyms for different
Adjective
  • The school district is one of the nation’s largest and most ethnically and religiously diverse.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the biggest opportunities for Fort Worth include growth in population, growing the technology industry, expanding tourism, becoming more inclusive and diverse, protecting the environment, and creating job opportunities.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The Social Security Fairness Act triggered a separate wave of claims from public workers in 2025.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 1 May 2025
  • The Fire and Rescue Service reported active blazes in at least five separate locations across the Jerusalem hills, as crews battled to contain the flames amid hot, dry conditions.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • From its facial expressions to its distinctive chirp, the creature is wreathed in a kind of nostalgia that Eighties kids will remember from those early days trolling the VHS rack at their local Blockbuster.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • The Allure of Free Market Multifamily The recent transactions demonstrate strong investor demand, which is closely linked to the distinctive attributes of New York City's free market multifamily sector.
    Shimon Shkury, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • One of the best aspects of the NFL's traveling draft show, however, might be when ex-players make their respective former teams' selections and troll rivals (David Akers, anyone?).
    Jim Reineking, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Negotiators from the European Union and the U.K. are in talks with U.S. officials to try to alleviate their respective 25% and 10% blanket tariffs, while also grappling with broader tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos.
    Jenni Reid,Sam Meredith, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Leaders must align their efforts but never relinquish their distinct accountabilities.
    Shivali Kukreja, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Destinations & Experiences division, offers five distinct lands and opens to the public on May 22.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Speaking to a group of journalists on April 25, the NATO chief repeatedly sidestepped questions about various statements Trump has made about Russia's war against Ukraine.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • Cybercriminals use various techniques to steal this data, including: • Database Breaches: Attackers target centralized repositories where biometric templates are stored.
    Mohamed Lazzouni, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Let your words be intentional and your thoughts be clear—especially when involving other people into your mental maze.
    Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 May 2025
  • The pair then later came face-to-face with one another as tensions ran high, before eventually being separated by players and other security personnel.
    Ben Morse, CNN Money, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • To make sense of the recurring post-hurricane peaks, Cabrera and colleagues analyzed how butterfly numbers varied with precipitation, wind speed, temperature and other meteorological variables.
    Marina Wang, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025
  • While 32 different winds—each with a name—are noted for bringing in varied weather conditions, the most notorious is the Mistral.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/different. Accessed 3 May. 2025.

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