1
as in diversity
the quality or state of being different
there's a great difference between claiming to care about the environment and living like you really do
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dispute
variance of opinion on a matter
we must try to settle our differences without fighting
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in change
the act, process, or result of making different
it won't make any difference which one you choose
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
people who cannot difference God's will from their own selfish desires and prejudices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of difference
Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Treat income as the leverage point The return on improving your skills, expanding your scope, building new earning streams, or stepping into higher-impact roles dwarfs the difference between a 6% or 8% market return.
—Sahil Bloom, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2018
For the days closest to the equinox, the Harvest Moon rise occurs between 30 and 35 minutes difference each day, as opposed to the normal 50 minutes through most of the rest of the year.
—Richard Tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, 5 Oct. 2017
See All Example Sentences for difference
Noun
Industry norms have developed to smooth over those differences.
—Peter Burke, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Treat income as the leverage point The return on improving your skills, expanding your scope, building new earning streams, or stepping into higher-impact roles dwarfs the difference between a 6% or 8% market return.
—Sahil Bloom, CNBC, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
But that’s largely attributed to the singular genius of coach Bill Belichick, who is famous for his ability to adapt his game plan and players to difference situations each week.
—Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press, 2 Mar. 2018
For the days closest to the equinox, the Harvest Moon rise occurs between 30 and 35 minutes difference each day, as opposed to the normal 50 minutes through most of the rest of the year.
—Richard Tribou, OrlandoSentinel.com, 5 Oct. 2017
See All Example Sentences for difference
Recent Examples of Synonyms for difference
Noun
-
The depth and diversity of this particular Team USA squad should translate at these Winter Olympic Games into a very high return on investment indeed.—
Tim Genske,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Minnesotans have shown that their community is socially cohesive—because of its diversity and not in spite of it.—
Adam Serwer,
The Atlantic,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The ruling advances Chiles toward resolving a dispute marked by errors that cost her the floor exercise bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Games.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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The company added programmers’ streaming applications in Spectrum’s expanded basic packages to lower churn and had a slight bump in signups when Disney channels were unavailable for YouTube TV subscribers during a recent carriage dispute.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Similar proposals have drawn alarm from voting rights groups, which say such changes could lead to widespread problems for voters.—
LISA MASCARO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
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Most patients show changes in the fluid that surrounds the brain, commonly seen in other viral brain infections.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Those numbers likely don’t differentiate between who makes it out of the peaceful protest alive and who emerges as a martyr for the cause.—
Lorraine Ali,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
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In the series, Swisher will investigate movements promoting longevity and anti-aging, seeking to differentiate real science from wishful thinking.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
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As to the non-final action, one problem for the A’s is that the marks fail to show enough distinctiveness.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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Judean culture had been transformed by Greek influence for centuries, but Antiochus attempted to quash Judean religious distinctiveness altogether.—
Joshua Shanes,
The Conversation,
11 Dec. 2025
Noun
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The controversy began at the end of a planning and zoning meeting last Thursday, when the council member raised concerns about Border Patrol agents stopping people in the community.—
Anna McAllister,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The other new entries are DSquared2 (which featured a hot celebrity) and Dolce & Gabbana (which generated heated controversy for its model casting).—
Luke Leitch,
Vogue,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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An Australian study of advanced brain images found significant alterations even among people who had already recovered from mild infections — a possible explanation for cognitive deficits that may persist for years.—
Stephanie Armour,
Miami Herald,
28 Jan. 2026
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An Australian study of advanced brain images found significant alterations even among people who had already recovered from mild infections — a possible explanation for cognitive deficits that may persist for years.—
Stephanie Armour,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But critics argue the law does not distinguish between responsible editorial judgment and censorship.—
Jack O'Connor,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Creating a dedicated deck for intimate meals—including formal five-course dinners prepared by the boat’s Ecuadorian chef with an all-inclusive wine and spirits menu—was central to distinguishing Hermes’s offering.—
Julia Zaltzman,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Difference.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/difference. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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