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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Sensors alone are not a cure for such failures, but better measurements can help engineers notice when important details are changing.—
Alex Krasnok,
Fortune,
21 June 2026
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Pryor also noticed that Black students were frequently more hesitant to participate in these conversations.—
Marybeth Gasman,
Forbes.com,
21 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 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.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
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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.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
22 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 23 Jun. 2026.
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