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
Mehta is the president of Sim Gems USA, a diamond dealer that sources investment-worthy stones for discerning billionaires; his customers include Nita Ambani, the wife of the richest man in Asia.
—
Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
Huang will have to strike a confident tone for investors who will be more discerning in 2026 and focusing closely on underlying fundamentals to pick their positions.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Open discussions suit your practical, discerning style.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
And yet, the narrow parameters of what may be counted as a tuxedo can make those small differences all the more meaningful and appreciated by the discerning eye.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Emilia Petrarca, New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2026
Huang will have to strike a confident tone for investors who will be more discerning in 2026 and focusing closely on underlying fundamentals to pick their positions.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 2 Jan. 2026
Open discussions suit your practical, discerning style.
—Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 2 Jan. 2026
And yet, the narrow parameters of what may be counted as a tuxedo can make those small differences all the more meaningful and appreciated by the discerning eye.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 26 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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The theft wasn't noticed until a store employee saw that the entire caviar section was empty, which led management to check their security cameras.—
Michele Gile,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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One game, Jordan Ross, his roommate, noticed that Jake was too late to rotate over on a double-team from the baseline side on a drive.—
Mirin Fader,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Pliyt's prototype, revealed at CES just days ago, aims to differentiate itself by turning introverts' dreams into reality.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Neither film nor actor seems concerned with differentiating between reality and fiction.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Even though just three can alert to an emergency, many more are needed to understand what is behind those emergencies.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Those specifics aside, more stunningly, researchers discovered that these brave, early explorers of new worlds demonstrated a different way of moving than had been previously understood.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But, the aide said, the President would see me first.—
Jon Lee Anderson,
New Yorker,
15 Jan. 2026
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In live video, Japanese astronaut Kimiya Yui and Russian cosmonaut Oleg Platonov can be seen in their suits woring on tasks, but not yet in their seats.—
Josh Dinner,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Scott has distinguished herself among the biggest individual donors by giving large, unrestricted gifts to nonprofits, often with a focus on equity or social justice.—
Thalia Beaty,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
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Still, his is not a name that the average person might distinguish from the reindeer.—
Anthony Paletta,
Curbed,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Peaceful but active, a place where everyone knows everyone and, mostly, everyone cares for everyone else.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Jan. 2026
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All of these parks have been known to their communities for their criminal activity and for those of us who grew up playing at these parks, there was never a hint that life could be otherwise.—
Rafael Perez,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The $10 billion space telescope has also been spotting extremely bright, ultra-compact and incredibly dense galaxies that lack an abundance of dust.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
15 Jan. 2026
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Federal agents have been spotted all across Minnesota, giving the ones who resided here first an on-edge feeling.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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So, the thinking went, every costume, prop, and line reading is there for a reason, infinite symbolism scattered across the frame for anyone determined enough to decipher it.—
Lane Brown,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
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By building out a picture of the whales’ health, habits and diet, researchers are deciphering the many ways humans impact their lives and guiding conservation actions that may mean life or death for the orcas.—
Kelso Harper,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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