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
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
-
Sensors alone are not a cure for such failures, but better measurements can help engineers notice when important details are changing.
-
Pryor also noticed that Black students were frequently more hesitant to participate in these conversations.
Verb
-
What differentiates MidFirst is not simply scale, but the culture private ownership has enabled.
-
This is what differentiates it from the Ferraris, the Astons, and so forth.
Verb
-
These reports present your income and spending habits with clean, easy-to-understand visualizations.
-
Raised in Rio de Janeiro, Burle Marx understood the country’s abundance as both subject and material.
Verb
-
While many people were surprised to see the warning pop up on their phones, especially those living hundreds of miles from the epicenter, officials say the ShakeAlert system is designed to err on the side of caution.
-
She was last seen wearing a black shirt and shorts, police said.
Verb
-
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.
-
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.
Verb
-
It is known to cause neurological problems, convulsions and comas, with children particularly at risk.
-
Martin, 36, best known for his career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, was selected in August as one of the top-50 players in franchise history as part of the team’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Verb
-
Within hours, he was spotted on Santa Clara Valley Water District property at Camino Arroyo and Gilman Road.
-
The marshals received a tip Tuesday that the man had been spotted at his residence in Meridian, the release said.
Verb
-
One of the most exciting uses of AI has to be helping historians and archaeologists decipher previously indecipherable or untranslatable ancient texts.
-
As the inscription had been damaged, researchers couldn’t decipher whether this tablet had cursed four slaves or whether four slaves had cried out to the Egyptian gods and demi-heroes, who knows?
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
