1
as in discriminatory
favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people
accused of discriminating practices in the hiring of employees
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in characteristic
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
a discriminating feature of poison ivy is a compound leaf with three mitten-shaped leaflets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in differentiating
to understand or point out the difference in
the human eye can discriminate between very slight gradations of color
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 discriminating
IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2025
Perhaps audiences aren't so much bored with superhero movies as becoming more discriminating in their choices.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Fleming eventually left the agency and sued the city, accusing Lee of discriminating and retaliating against him for conducting investigations.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminating
Adjective
Turning Selectivity Into Strategy A range of more discriminating strategies have been explored, including tweaking the shape and timing of electrical pulses and using multi-contact electrodes to maneuver currents in specific directions.
—IEEE Spectrum, 4 June 2025
Perhaps audiences aren't so much bored with superhero movies as becoming more discriminating in their choices.
—Ars Technica, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
In 2023, an ordinance banned landlords from discriminating against prospective tenants based on their source of income.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 6 Feb. 2026
Fleming eventually left the agency and sued the city, accusing Lee of discriminating and retaliating against him for conducting investigations.
—Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discriminating
Adjective
-
Another tactic would be to impose duties of up to 50% if the US believes trading partners are engaging in discriminatory trade practices, a move that could violate World Trade Organization agreement terms.—
Auzinea Bacon,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Trump may attempt to revive Section 338 of the antiquated 1930 Smoot-Hawley Tariff Act, which theoretically allows the president to hit discriminatory countries with tariffs of up to 50%, but Ashworth sees courts ruling that the explicit provisions of the 1974 Trade Act would take legal precedence.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
That frequency depends on the shape of each ridge, which guides the waves down with a characteristic speed.—
Joseph Howlett,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2026
-
This ornament, situating them as something between a throw pillow and a hand muff, shrouds the thick-boned fore- and hindquarters that give them a characteristic rolling gait.—
Andrew Norman Wilson,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Younger students learned how produce is grown and practiced differentiating between fruits and vegetables before getting a chance to pick from a variety of items to take home at no cost.—
Del Mar Times,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Asked about the challenges of differentiating Net from Mytheresa, Kaminetsky argues that the two have a 10 percent customer crossover and can happily co-exist.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Officially, Buc-ee's is suing IP Holdings for trademark infringement and unfair competition.—
Rhyma Castillo,
San Antonio Express-News,
26 Feb. 2026
-
The lawmakers contend the state’s loose regulation of insurer secrecy is unfair to homeowners who are required to purchase insurance to obtain mortgage loans.—
Ron Hurtibise,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Authorities asked anyone who recognizes the clothing worn by the individual, or who can identify any distinguishing characteristics, including the person’s gait, to call the Major Crimes Division at 240-773- 5070 or Crime Solvers of Montgomery County.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Harvard was doing its job of distinguishing me from my parents.—
Lloyd Blankfein,
Vanity Fair,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Often dwarfed by architecture, their distinctive bodies in space are more important than the sparse dialogue that only serves to fill in crucial gaps in storytelling.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
-
Kayne, known for his sharp wit and poignant observations, brings his distinctive brand of humor to the SXSW stage with an engaging 40-minute session offering an intimate look into the world of stand-up comedy, combining live performance with candid conversation.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The most widespread Games in history created distinct pockets of Olympic spirit separated by hours on trains and miles of winding mountain roads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Held is in good company at Goldman Sachs, where former pros are muscling their distinct skill sets to succeed in new careers.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
22 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Given that a typical satellite payload is around 800 kg (1760 pounds), those prices were close to a billion dollars (in today’s dollars) per launch in the early days of spaceflight.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
-
By Sunday, the snowpack was at 73% of the typical level, per data from the California Department of Water Resources.—
Terry Castleman,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discriminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discriminating. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
