differentia

noun

ˌdi-fə-ˈren(t)-sh(ē-)ə How to pronounce differentia (audio)
Definition of differentianext
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind a list of the chief differentiae between a controlling cult and a legitimate religious sect

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for differentia
  1. characteristic
  2. trait
  3. quality
  4. attribute
  5. feature
  6. attribution
  7. criterion
Noun
  • The company specializes in flight controls engineering, simulation, and aircraft systems that help engineers validate handling characteristics before flight testing begins.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 8 July 2026
  • Some characteristics can, however, be defined as on the whole necessary for any beach and any mood.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Still, the pieces of ceiling trim dedicated to the pillars of courage and trust remained missing, a nod perhaps to the traits most easily lost when disaster strikes – and most needed to rebuild.
    — Alisha Ebrahimji, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
  • The American Culture Quiz is a weekly test of our unique national traits, trends, history and people — including current events and the sights and sounds of the United States.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of trait
Noun
  • Argentina will be a significant step up in difficulty but England have enough attacking quality to trouble the reigning champions.
    — Abdul Rehman, New York Times, 14 July 2026
  • Participants report reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, along with improvements in sleep quality and overall quality of life.
    — Nicole Williams, AJC.com, 14 July 2026
Definition of quality
Noun
  • There are loft-like attributes to them, and also the feeling of living in a penthouse.
    — Deborah Gimelson, Architectural Digest, 3 July 2026
  • Some rabbinic readings attribute Lot’s hesitation to leave Sodom to his immoral greed and inordinate wealth.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 July 2026
Definition of attribute
Noun
  • The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported the switch had come at the urging of the Secret Service, and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older aircraft, including antimissile capabilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
  • Squarespace, on the other hand, is a fantastic option, thanks to its beautiful designs, intuitive editor, and powerful e-commerce features.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 14 July 2026
Definition of feature
Noun
  • Cross-channel attribution and audience-level performance reporting are what allow omniplatform investments to prove their value over time.
    — Thomas Zawacki, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026
  • The suit alleges that Thomas’ 2024 exhibition All About Love incorporated Karant’s photos without due attribution.
    — News Desk, Artforum, 9 July 2026
Definition of attribution
Noun
  • Candidates receiving the funding must abide by expenditure limits and adhere to the criteria set by statute, ordinance or charter to demonstrate broad support, such as demonstrate a large number of small dollar contributions.
    — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026
  • Critics say the test rewards the smallest slice of the problem while ignoring Scope 3, the 80% to 95% of a producer's emissions that come from burning its fuel, and note the criteria echo the oil industry's own lobbying.
    — Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Definition of criterion
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.

Browse Nearby Words

different
differentia
differentiability
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Cite this Entry

“Differentia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/differentia. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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