1
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
too young to discern between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discern
Different elements such as oxygen and hydrogen emit light at very specific wavelengths; discerning such details allows astronomers to nail down an object’s actual redshift—and thus its true distance—with excellent accuracy.
—
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
Critics of TikTok’s most popular novels cast them as poorly written and appealing to readers with less discerning tastes.
—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
The key is discerning why a discount exists and what could resolve it.
—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
But when a substance becomes a requirement for managing the ordinary needs of caring for children, the line between beneficial use and overreliance can be hard to discern.
—
Sarah Levy,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Phil Plait,
Scientific American,
19 June 2026
Critics of TikTok’s most popular novels cast them as poorly written and appealing to readers with less discerning tastes.
—
Angelina Mazza,
Vulture,
19 June 2026
The key is discerning why a discount exists and what could resolve it.
—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
But when a substance becomes a requirement for managing the ordinary needs of caring for children, the line between beneficial use and overreliance can be hard to discern.
—
Sarah Levy,
The Atlantic,
17 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Rest, review, and notice what keeps repeating in your mind.
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Some of you may notice that income streams are shifting, checks are being delayed or there are confusing charges on your accounts.
Verb
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What’s even more striking is the fact that the Puerto Rican scalloped hammerheads were not only differentiated from the Northwest Atlantic population, but also showed genetic separation from populations sampled in Belize and Brazil!
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Can voters differentiate between two candidates with the same name?
Verb
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These reports present your income and spending habits with clean, easy-to-understand visualizations.
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Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Burle Marx understood the country’s abundance as both subject and material.
Verb
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As adult influencers dominate online fashion culture, and tweens and teens see the same content as adults, there are fewer spaces for young people to develop styles of their own.
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Messi was trying to get a ball away from an Algerian player when he was seen digging his cleat into the back of the player’s calf.
Verb
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The June Bootids tend to be very slow meteors, which helps astronomers distinguish them from other meteors that may appear to originate from a radiant in the same region.
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But in the 1980s, when the species turned up in North Africa, a region that had its own distinct screwworm, scientists needed a way to distinguish between the two, said Cammack, an assistant professor and the state extension specialist at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater.
Verb
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It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
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Martin, 36, best known for his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was selected in August as one of the top-50 players in franchise history as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Verb
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Within hours, he was spotted on Santa Clara Valley Water District property at Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road.
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The marshals received a tip Tuesday that the man had been spotted at his residence in Meridian, the release said.
Verb
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In 2023, the Vesuvius Challenge made its first award for deciphering the first letters, and the following year, the project awarded the grand prize of $700,000 for producing the first readable text.
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On Thursday, the University of Kentucky announced a new $1 million prize to anyone able to decipher a complete scroll, a feat the researchers once considered impossible, by June next year.
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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