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 Blomstadt has such a kind and expressive face, and the camera lingers on the different instruments in the orchestra, which is perfect for fuelling the imagination of a music-mad toddler. Hilton Als, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025 Because a tax bill may be sent to a business office or other location different from the property being transferred, some of the addresses listed may differ from the property that was transferred. Gege Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 7 Nov. 2025 Indonesia also has a lot for travelers to do with more than 45,000 different attractions and tours on offer. Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 7 Nov. 2025 However, Mongolia’s inclusion in the show came through a different process. Sara Merican, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for different
Recent Examples of Synonyms for different
Adjective
  • Kiley represents the state’s 3rd Congressional District, a conservative-leaning area that is also the most geographically diverse in the state.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 6 Nov. 2025
  • And whether your brand resonates with their very diverse customer base.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Boys and girls will be separate for most classes save for electives and more advanced coursework.
    Jennah Pendleton, Sacbee.com, 12 Nov. 2025
  • The judgment releases the county from four separate federal lawsuits filed by various plaintiffs against officials.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • His legacy is alive and well in the nightclubs of Recife, the capital city, where couples dance to forró’s distinctive ringing of triangles and humming zabumba drum until the early hours.
    Carolina Abbott Galvão, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
  • With 18 patterns in dinner, dessert, and mini sizes, these plates make your holiday table distinctive, sans the post-feast cleanup marathon.
    Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • An initial ceasefire between the two Southeast Asian countries was agreed on July 28 after the US president held calls with the respective leaders.
    Helen Regan, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Specialty beauty retailers like Ulta Beauty and Sephora, by comparison, have upheld programs meant to support founders of color, including their respective accelerator programs, which inaugurate annual classes of beauty founders of color and ready them for growth via monetary grants and mentorship.
    Noor Lobad, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Formed by rolling up sheets of atoms, these hollow tubes exhibit unique behaviors distinct from bulk materials due to their nanoscale dimensions.
    Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Her bubbly, non-threatening stage persona, paired with her cutting jokes and roasts, feels distinct in her body of work.
    Rima Parikh, Vulture, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • Shouts for it will be met by angry fingers jutted towards the various gaffes played ad nauseam on Sky Sports’ weekly Ref Watch, or the mandatory pause before the emotional unleashing as VAR mulls over whether a goal is a goal or just a hoax.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Michael Harley covers various athletics at Arkansas State University and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
    Michael Harley, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The research team underlined that the future work will explore other co-intercalants and optimize electrolytes for even wider temperature ranges.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
  • That’s a significant contrast to other parts of the Forbidden City, marked by wide open spaces intended to represent the grandeur of imperial power and territory.
    Fred He, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
  • The structure of Pittsburgh’s tax, which involves applying a different rate to nonresidents, is distinguishable from many other such taxes, which typically apply the same rate to visiting players.
    Robert Raiola, Sportico.com, 27 Sep. 2025
  • The 300-second exposure shows the wandering solar system body as a minute dot, barely distinguishable among the stellar giants populating the distant starfield beyond.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 1 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/different. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on different

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