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
Increasingly, discerning travelers are turning to small-ship luxury cruises for exclusive, thoughtful experiences that were once impossible without a private yacht.
—
Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
The plot concerns a man who has come home to see his semi-estranged, dying father and who tries, with exasperation, to discern what bits of reality lie in his dad’s fantastical life stories.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
The logic of platooning the two veterans at first base isn't difficult to discern.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Despite that galaxy appearing smudged over just a handful of pixels, astronomers are still able to discern something about the supernova’s galactic environment.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Jane Wooldridge, Miami Herald, 25 Dec. 2025
The plot concerns a man who has come home to see his semi-estranged, dying father and who tries, with exasperation, to discern what bits of reality lie in his dad’s fantastical life stories.
—The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 21 Dec. 2025
The logic of platooning the two veterans at first base isn't difficult to discern.
—Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025
Despite that galaxy appearing smudged over just a handful of pixels, astronomers are still able to discern something about the supernova’s galactic environment.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 9 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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This dual demand profile differentiates silver from gold, creating different price dynamics.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
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Those figures do not differentiate between civilians and combatants.—
Sierra Lopez,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
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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Tarr's reputation for films tinged with misery and hard-heartedness, distinguished by black-and-white cinematography and unusually long sequences, only grew throughout the 1990s and 2000s, particularly after his 1994 film Sátántangó.—
Alina Edwards,
NPR,
6 Jan. 2026
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Hofman's photos of the Ross seal — often distinguished by its broad, dark stripes on its body and neck, as well as its large eyes — show the seal facing the camera directly, with its flippers and tail trailing behind it.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
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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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 10 Jan. 2026.
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