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
But now the business is taking a bold step to cater for discerning non-drinkers by offering an entire menu of bottled water.
—
Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
In the meantime, consumers must do better in discerning the difference.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
Monitoring of Kalluk, for example, helped stumped researchers discern how polar bears were able to find each other over the vast and apparently featureless Arctic tundra, said Megan Owen, vice president of wildlife conservation science for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
This is why Dijon’s language works best as sound, not narrative—his rangy, raspy voice seethes and triumphs, mocks and threatens; there’s no world in which his polygonal perspective can be discerned from a lyric sheet.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2025
In the meantime, consumers must do better in discerning the difference.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 19 Aug. 2025
Monitoring of Kalluk, for example, helped stumped researchers discern how polar bears were able to find each other over the vast and apparently featureless Arctic tundra, said Megan Owen, vice president of wildlife conservation science for San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.
—Teri Figueroa, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
This is why Dijon’s language works best as sound, not narrative—his rangy, raspy voice seethes and triumphs, mocks and threatens; there’s no world in which his polygonal perspective can be discerned from a lyric sheet.
—Brady Brickner-Wood, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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That 2024 law induced the companies to decrease the odds of winning, which negatively affected bettors in the aggregate, albeit not in so direct a way that the casual gambler would notice.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
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Those who noticed the earthquake are encouraged to report it through the USGS Felt Report form.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Training Day star attributed the shift in how people came to pronounce his name to his mother, who needed a way to differentiate between him and his father, who shares the same name.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
4 Sep. 2025
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The rule dates back to the 19th century and was founded by old-money circles in the Northeast to differentiate themselves from the nouveau riche trying to infiltrate the social elite.—
Starr Bowenbank,
PEOPLE,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Empathy at Scale - Technologies that help individuals understand and respond to the needs of others across cultural and linguistic boundaries, transforming Malaysia's diversity into a source of collective intelligence.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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The biggest advances will come from AI agents that harness the power of LLMs and data to deeply understand a business and drive outcomes.—
Marc Benioff,
Time,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This was the biggest dust storm Phoenix had seen since July 5, 2011 — the storm by which all others are judged.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
28 Aug. 2025
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Republicans, meanwhile, see crime as one of their strongest political issues heading into the 2026 midterm elections.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Contest categories distinguish between quilts made for beds, walls and laps and those quilted by hand or by machine, among other techniques and qualifications.—
Connor Giffin,
The Courier-Journal,
26 Aug. 2025
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The next phase will work in the space of education, helping medical professionals better understand burnout — both what drives it and how to distinguish it from underlying mental health issues.—
Natalie Eilbert,
jsonline.com,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Some Minnesotans and national political commentators have said that, given these threats were known long before the shooting, the response of public safety officials was lacking.—
Robert Schmad,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Aug. 2025
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The bucks know there will be fights over the females.—
Chris McKeown,
The Enquirer,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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This center-court suite—where celebrities like Clairo, Angela Kinsey, Connie Briton, and Chelsea Handler were spotted on opening night—highlights the airline’s premiere service and offers a taste of the amenities found in its upper-tier cabins.—
Elizabeth Rhodes,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Aug. 2025
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Find an unobstructed view toward the east for the best chance of spotting it — but be prepared for a tricky observation.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For families deciphering what’s necessary and what to skip in a skin regimen, building a healthy routine for kids can be easy to manage.—
Khanh T.L. Tran,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
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To make deciphering all these invites a little easier, here’s what to know about formal attire.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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