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
Having a discerning eye during the New Moon in Scorpio on November 20 urges us to break free from situations and relationships holding us back.
—
Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 5 Nov. 2025
The second relies on the fact that computers can be better than people at discerning text that is almost hidden.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Here’s one auction that the more discerning Raging Bull collectors out there will want to keep an eye on.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
The line between some of Isker and Engel’s rhetoric and white supremacism is difficult to discern.
—David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 5 Nov. 2025
The second relies on the fact that computers can be better than people at discerning text that is almost hidden.
—Kevin Collier, NBC news, 31 Oct. 2025
Here’s one auction that the more discerning Raging Bull collectors out there will want to keep an eye on.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 27 Oct. 2025
The line between some of Isker and Engel’s rhetoric and white supremacism is difficult to discern.
—David Peisner, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Teams that set meeting windows, encourage short breaks, and support ergonomic basics may notice steadier output and fewer end-of-week slumps, especially when people adjust lighting, seat height, and screen distance to reduce eye strain.—
Jason Phillips,
IndyStar,
11 Nov. 2025
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And when his hospital finally reopened, in February of the following year, doctors began noticing unexpected changes.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the below interview, Lockhart dives further into differentiating the stories, connecting the dots with very specific references to both books set on Beechwood Island, and where the hope lies in her newest novel, now out in bookstores.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
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Paleontologists have long wrestled with how to differentiate between male and female dinosaurs based on their fossils.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Adoption accelerates naturally when professionals understand that AI is amplifying their capabilities, rather than replacing them.—
Feon Ang,
Fortune,
7 Nov. 2025
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Members of the new Agentic Futures Initiative believe lawmakers and officials need to better understand the technology to ensure new products remain interoperable across platforms, private — and secure.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But travelers could still see flight cuts even if the government were to reopen next week, as the FAA’s order requires airlines to cancel flights days in advance.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Roaches were seen in the restrooms.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The cut roofline helps distinguish it from the larger Polestar 3, which has a long, level roof for a traditional SUV profile.—
Mark Phelan,
USA Today,
10 Nov. 2025
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This helps people distinguish their own speech from external sounds.—
Hannah Seo,
Scientific American,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The employees are all members of a union local known as University Professional Technical Employees-Communications Workers of America 9119.—
Cathie Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
9 Nov. 2025
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The account was not guarded by an extra layer of security known as multi-factor authentication.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The tech can interpret brain scans twice as accurately as professionals examining stroke patients, spot more bone fractures than humans can, and detect early signs of more than 1,000 diseases.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
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Even Selena Gomez is in on it, as the actress and singer was recently spotted sporting a pair of deep brown Adidas Handball Spezial sneakers, proving that the trend has officially hit the A-list.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Their job was to transmit secure battlefield communications that the enemy could not decipher.—
Tim Trudell,
USA Today,
4 Nov. 2025
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While expeditions in the early 1990s deciphered crucial insights into the ship’s final moments, one expedition drew sharp criticism after a crewman’s body was found.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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