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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of discern
This one rose to near the top of my list — and my very discerning teenage son’s.
—
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
The incident was captured on a doorbell camera — further reason to learn how to discern the difference between real and AI-generated content.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Others were harder to discern, like a boy being swept away by a tornado, or homeless men being inserted into people’s homes.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Our Rei-Tan process elevates mycelium to a level that has won the hearts of some of the world’s most discerning designers.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
The incident was captured on a doorbell camera — further reason to learn how to discern the difference between real and AI-generated content.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Others were harder to discern, like a boy being swept away by a tornado, or homeless men being inserted into people’s homes.
—Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
Our Rei-Tan process elevates mycelium to a level that has won the hearts of some of the world’s most discerning designers.
—Alexandra Harrell, Sourcing Journal, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Mariah had noticed the young soldier standing alone while everyone else celebrated with loved ones.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
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Now is not the time for pastors to wilt or keep our heads down, hoping against hope that we won’t be noticed.—
Rev. Nathan Empsall,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The shoe differentiates itself with a half d’Orsay design that reveals the side of the foot and a curvaceous outline that adds subtle undulation to the silhouette; a stitched band is also featured across the toe.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
23 Oct. 2025
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Other than a window exposing the rear suspension, Ford did barely anything to differentiate the cockpit.—
Tim Stevens,
Robb Report,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Of course, a reliable method for measuring a team’s performance is to use underlying metrics to understand the team’s process more than its outcomes.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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The clip then smash-cuts to a scene of Bruce as a child listening to his parents fight in the next room, and we’re meant to understand that the joy and power that steams off of the stage is a cure for the pain of childhood wounds.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The suppression of Black voters well into the twentieth century was only ended (for the most part) with the passage of the 1965 Voting Rights Act (VRA), after a long and dangerous fight that saw multiple incidents of deadly violence against those advocating for equal access to the ballot.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
25 Oct. 2025
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But the biggest surprise was seeing how ineffective Liverpool’s forwards were.—
The Athletic UK Staff,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Here the AfDB could play the role of truth-teller, helping its members distinguish between credible, fit-for-purpose nuclear ambitions and fantasy.—
W. Gyude Moore,
semafor.com,
27 Oct. 2025
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Imax has benefited in recent years as audiences opt for premium large formats to distinguish the out-of-the-home moviegoing experience.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The charitable organization funded by the Johnson & Johnson heiress is known for gifts to education, health and civic projects.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Also known as irritable hip, the condition is due to inflammation of the hip joint lining.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Perry and Trudeau first sparked romance rumors over the summer, when they were spotted on a date in Montreal, Canada.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
26 Oct. 2025
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Shawn Mayes, a longtime Terpsichore dancer, remembered when MTV did a bar crawl and spotted the dancers and put it on camera.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The audience is put into her shoes, only able to decipher what is going on by listening to the men banging around the house trying to kill her.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
19 Oct. 2025
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No, Lindsey did not decipher a few revealing tarot cards or see the future inside a crystal ball.—
Andy Greder,
Twin Cities,
12 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
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