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
The Japanese researchers used their simulations to discern that a dugout canoe would have been the most likely vessel used by Paleolithic humans.
—
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
Since reaching the semifinals of the LVMH Prize in 2023, Kartik Research’s contemporary take on Indian heritage and craftsmanship has won a cult following among discerning customers, including a growing number of women.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
In the 2025 Product of the Year Awards, ALDI was recently lauded for eight products that took the top prize in their respective categories, voted on by thousands of discerning customers balancing quality and quantity with affordability.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
The sheer diversity of the collection is a testament to Koch’s discerning taste.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
Since reaching the semifinals of the LVMH Prize in 2023, Kartik Research’s contemporary take on Indian heritage and craftsmanship has won a cult following among discerning customers, including a growing number of women.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 25 June 2025
In the 2025 Product of the Year Awards, ALDI was recently lauded for eight products that took the top prize in their respective categories, voted on by thousands of discerning customers balancing quality and quantity with affordability.
—Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 19 June 2025
The sheer diversity of the collection is a testament to Koch’s discerning taste.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Sports fans may notice a difference in the race calls this season as longtime announcer Trevor Denman announced his retirement in March.—
Kelley Carlson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 July 2025
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Helping young people: Tribes seek foster care for kids in need, but strained resources lead some to group homes Manuel also noticed that many foster kids were hungry to learn about their cultural roots, which sparked another idea.—
Debra Utacia Krol,
AZCentral.com,
4 July 2025
Verb
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This helps differentiate it from the CX-50 while offering an option that sits between that smaller model and the larger CX-70.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 July 2025
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For now, Samsung is leaning on hardware upgrades and AI to differentiate its phones from the growing competition.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
10 July 2025
Verb
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To better understand the risks and inform public debate, the French food safety agency ANSES ran multiple studies to measure microplastic levels in everyday foods, especially seafood and beverages.—
Pranjal Malewar,
New Atlas,
5 July 2025
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Some things are beyond the capacity of a child to understand, while others resonate most profoundly out of the mouths of babes.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
5 July 2025
Verb
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The third edition of this category sees four out of five honorees return, mainly owing to their outstanding portfolios and strength of service.—
Sarah Bruning,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
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The water line can be seen nearly reaching the doorway.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
8 July 2025
Verb
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At just under 6-5 without shoes, Tre distinguishes himself as an outside shooter.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
9 July 2025
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The team had already distinguished itself as one of just six top-flight clubs with greater revenue than expenses in 2024.—
Dan Bernstein,
Sportico.com,
8 July 2025
Verb
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Rest assured, no one knew this kind of flood was coming.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
7 July 2025
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Here’s everything to know about the real-life loves of the New Girl cast.—
Julie Tremaine,
People.com,
6 July 2025
Verb
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Companies that want to retain talent need to get better at spotting burnout early.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
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The app allows users to place a pin on a map where ICE agents have been spotted, and users in a five mile radius will get a push alert of the sightings.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
1 July 2025
Verb
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People were quick to decipher the message — and went bananas, as expected.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
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With these additional texts, the team was able to completely decipher this ancient hymn of praise.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 16 Jul. 2025.
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