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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discern
Almost a decade on, that positioning is resonating with a new generation of discerning luxury shoppers.
—
Vogue, 18 Feb. 2026
The goal of non-distiller producers, or NDPs as they are called, is to create and sell special or rare bottles to a discerning clientele — sometimes well below the price point usually associated with high-tier products.
—Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Like the accolades, which included a cadre of Emmy and SAG noms and a Golden Globe win, the opportunities began flowing in from there — though Bateman was much more discerning the second time around.
—Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Though there's still another phase of the renovation left to complete — upgrades to the villas and residences are coming later in the year — it's already won global acclaim from Forbes, which featured it on its unranked list of nine hotels opening in 2026 designed to impress discerning travelers.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Vogue, 18 Feb. 2026
The goal of non-distiller producers, or NDPs as they are called, is to create and sell special or rare bottles to a discerning clientele — sometimes well below the price point usually associated with high-tier products.
—Colin Wrenn, Denver Post, 18 Feb. 2026
Like the accolades, which included a cadre of Emmy and SAG noms and a Golden Globe win, the opportunities began flowing in from there — though Bateman was much more discerning the second time around.
—Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 18 Feb. 2026
Though there's still another phase of the renovation left to complete — upgrades to the villas and residences are coming later in the year — it's already won global acclaim from Forbes, which featured it on its unranked list of nine hotels opening in 2026 designed to impress discerning travelers.
—Michael Salerno, AZCentral.com, 17 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
-
Leaphorn then notices a radiator leak, and says that whoever sped off couldn't have gone far.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Of course, most of them have been too drunk to notice.—
Nick Canepa,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That’s what differentiates us from the commodity news and information that’s out there.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The case now revolves around the language restaurants use to differentiate between tips and service charges.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Avtar apparently had difficulty understanding the man and, by phone, called another man who lives at the temple to help translate, Deep said.—
Alex Wigglesworth,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The documents are not organized to help readers understand their context.—
Amy Wallace,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Neighbors confirmed seeing local police and FBI agents at the home in the suburban community of Southwest Ranches.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Scream 7 sees the return of Campbell and many other franchise faves.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He is nonetheless favored to win the Republican primary over the four-term senator John Cornyn, who has distinguished himself chiefly by serving four terms.—
Tad Friend,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Bridges fall when engineers can’t distinguish varieties of physical strength; what’s lost if people can’t distinguish varieties of character strength?—
Timothy J. Pawl,
The Conversation,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes a provider’s NPI is used without their knowledge or consent, a crime known as NPI theft that is commonly committed to facilitate Medicaid fraud.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Defense attorney David Patton said that a different Homeland Security Investigations office in Baltimore knew of the traffic stop two years earlier but had never charged Abrego Garcia and closed the investigation after his March 2025 deportation.—
TRAVIS LOLLER THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Alabama, meanwhile, has done the same vis-à-vis math skills, beginning with screening students to spot those in danger of failing, as EdSource notes.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
26 Feb. 2026
-
And the victims may be the least able to spot the scam.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Kentridge coauthored a previous study on artifacts from the same period that bear similar markings, in which researchers attempted to decipher the meaning of the signs.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
25 Feb. 2026
-
Artificial intelligence chipmaker Nvidia on Wednesday announced another quarter of astounding quarterly growth as investors try to decipher whether technology’s latest craze is overblown hyperbole or a springboard into a new era of prosperity and productivity.—
Boston Herald Wire Services,
Boston Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
