Definition of differentnext

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 Trump got into office and there was a lot of different shifts with shooting. — Peter White, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2026 According to the team, this indicates that different frog species rely on different strategies to defend themselves against this dangerous fungal disease. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 24 Sep. 2026 This entire premise is pretty unique and different than the rest of their IMDB pages. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 24 Sep. 2026 According to the memoir, Drakaki determined that his cancer had been misdiagnosed, leading to a different treatment approach. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for different
Recent Examples of Synonyms for different
Adjective
  • Rogers' campaign sees opportunity in racially and culturally diverse Wayne County, home to Detroit, where roughly three-quarters of the population is Black.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026
  • Great Mountain Forest is among the Northeast sites selected for the study, which examines how healthier, more diverse forests can better support native bee populations.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 20 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Continue making your routine purchases on a separate card, but don’t feel the need to spend just because your credit limit got larger.
    — Ryley Amond, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • The club was 6-for-9 with RISP and scored at least two runs in four separate innings.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • The experiments also produced the distinctive double hysteresis loop associated with antiferroelectric materials.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Details like labels, pocket flashers, packaging and visual assets were reimagined through Imogene + Willie’s distinctive design process.
    — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • As heads of their respective agencies, Vought and Bhattacharya presumably have other duties and would be hard-pressed to give each proposal a serious evaluation.
    — John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Between a courier caught in the middle of a zombie virus outbreak and a scuba diver swallowed whole by a sperm whale, both films put Abrams’ respective lead characters, Bryan and Jay, through uniquely harrowing one-man crucibles.
    — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Canaccord upgraded the stock and Guggenheim and Stifel both raised their targets to $300 after Dreamforce, with Stifel citing management's reaffirmed $63 billion fiscal 2030 revenue target built on six distinct AI monetization paths.
    — Tony Zhang, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Initial laboratory experiments found that the ART repeat array is expressed as multiple distinct short RNAs.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Before forward-facing sonar, anglers studied past tournaments and memorized successful fishing patterns at various times of the year.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The festival poster featured Argentine acting legend Ricardo Darín, a nod to the fest’s connections with Latin American cinema, which had close to 100 titles in the various sections this edition.
    — Jennifer Green, HollywoodReporter, 26 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • In other cases, Virginia prosecutors have previously brought their own expert witnesses to counter an insanity defense at trials or even disputed the claims without their own expert, according to reports and court records.
    — Hudson Crozier, The Washington Examiner, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Even though the analysis adjusted for several potential confounding factors, other unmeasured factors could still contribute to the observed relationship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Sep. 2026
Adjective
  • Along parts of the coast, relentless rain and early snowmelt made the sea barely distinguishable from the land.
    — Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2026
  • Oriahi has a solid handle on all craft aspects, though only the costumes by Yolanda Okereke are particularly distinguishable — her color stories popping in almost every scene.
    — Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/different. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!