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
For those discerning shoppers entranced not by fresh-off-the-runway finds (too common, too mass-produced), but, instead, garments with history and legacy embedded in their seams, these are holy grails.
—
Max Berlinger, Vogue, 11 June 2026
What becomes scarce, and therefore inherently more valuable, is the ability to discern what is worth making and consuming in the first place.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
To find the very best, our discerning staff put 10 popular supermarket brands through a rigorous taste test in the Test Kitchen.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Neem discerns within all of this a strange convergence, as both the far right and the far left have come to agree that the history of the United States has been defined by whiteness.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Max Berlinger, Vogue, 11 June 2026
What becomes scarce, and therefore inherently more valuable, is the ability to discern what is worth making and consuming in the first place.
—Dr. Marcus Collins, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
To find the very best, our discerning staff put 10 popular supermarket brands through a rigorous taste test in the Test Kitchen.
—Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 9 June 2026
Neem discerns within all of this a strange convergence, as both the far right and the far left have come to agree that the history of the United States has been defined by whiteness.
—Yoni Appelbaum, The Atlantic, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Conglomerates like Frito-Lay noticed when smaller indie pickle brands started to take off and Trader Joe’s quickly capitalized on the pickle craze with its private-label pickle offerings.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
14 June 2026
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Maybe not an 8-year-old’s, but mom's best friend is the only one besides her husband who seemed to notice.—
Sean Joseph OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
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Cannabis, thoughtfully integrated, offers a differentiating catalyst — a way to make the experience of a neighborhood bookshop or an independent record store feel qualitatively more immersive, more connective, more worth leaving home for.—
Peter Su,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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Incoming Chief Executive Officer John Ternus has said that the Air helps differentiate the company’s offerings.—
Mark Gurman,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
Verb
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Hughton, whose father is from Accra, understands the frustration of a fanbase starved of success for so long.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
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In cosmology itself, there has been quite a bit of progress in the past five years to develop the theoretical techniques to understand these three-dimensional data that have been gathered by new devices….—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
16 June 2026
Verb
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The controversial diplomatic breakthrough poses a quandary for Vance, whose aides see Rubio as his most viable challenger for the Republican presidential nomination should the secretary choose to run.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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She was last seen Thursday night in surveillance footage walking through the Publix parking lot at 100 Old Cherokee Road.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
18 June 2026
Verb
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The Gemini new moon helps you to distinguish chemistry from compatibility.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
14 June 2026
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Shortly after qualifying, Gilbert spoke with CBS News Miami's Jim DeFede and argued that his experience leading Miami Gardens and serving on the Miami-Dade County Commission distinguishes him from the rest of the field.—
Jim DeFede,
CBS News,
14 June 2026
Verb
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For up to a month, Luban remained in a spot off the southern coast of India that is known for high food productivity.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
19 June 2026
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Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known and can spread easily, especially among unvaccinated or undervaccinated populations.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
19 June 2026
Verb
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Some drone operators are spotted by the federal eyes in the skies, but most commonly, ground interception teams of the FBI and local law enforcement at each venue make physical contact with the drone pilot.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
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He was originally spotted by the Swiss side when featuring for his country in the Toulon under-20 tournament four years ago.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Verb
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There's a science behind adding curb appeal to your home, and Thumbtack has been on a mission to decipher the paint colors that add the most appeal to your exterior.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 June 2026
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What’s more, the back of the painting shows a number code which was deciphered in the project to reveal the year of production—1934.—
Margherita Bassi,
Popular Science,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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