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
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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
Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Writers nominated restaurants from across the country, and a team of editors with discriminating taste whittled them down to 39.
—Liz Johnson, USA Today, 11 Feb. 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
The last two seasons have been challenging for Canha, a discriminating hitter with some pop.
—Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 15 Feb. 2026
Writers nominated restaurants from across the country, and a team of editors with discriminating taste whittled them down to 39.
—Liz Johnson, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discriminating
Adjective
-
Condos also encounter discriminatory treatment in the federal tax code.—
M. Nolan Gray,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The full 4th Circuit in 2024 had struck down West Virginia’s law as discriminatory, but the Supreme Court last year directed it to reconsider this case and a separate one involving North Carolina, in light of its decision in the Tennessee case.—
Reuters 21 hr ago,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Users say taking small doses of psilocybin or LSD does everything from bolster productivity and creativity to ease symptoms of anxiety and insomnia — all without the hallucinogenic effects characteristic of a full-blown trip.—
Tiney Ricciardi,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
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But unlike the desert boot, which features a characteristic crepe sole, chukkas may have leather or rubber soles.—
Eric Twardzik,
Robb Report,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In fact, my emphasis on feeling good about him off the field, or any of those issues, has to do with me not differentiating him from any of the top players.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
The number of debt collection reports — consumer complaints against unfair collection practices — filed to government agencies has surged in the past two years in the D-FW area, according to Federal Trade Commission statistics.—
William Tong,
Dallas Morning News,
20 Mar. 2026
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These wagers seem unfair and dangerous, and bets related to the Iran war — which traded over $675 million on Polymarket — feel morbid and sordid.—
Max Raskin,
Washington Post,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But other bolt-holes stand out for giving the beds themselves extra attention, distinguishing them in some particularly charming or even surreal way (see beds carved out of literal ice).—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
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Every building has distinguishing characteristics.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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But his distinctive tattoos and fashion sense helped investigators find him — notably, his sweatshirt, his bronze foamposite sneakers, a large gold ring on his left hand and a distinctive tattoo of a globe on his left arm.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
18 Mar. 2026
-
The plant has distinctive foliage and orange blooms that spike up from the leaves.—
Charlie Vargas,
Oc Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Jordan creates two distinct personalities with his main characters.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
16 Mar. 2026
-
While all three properties for the vineyard designate wines are certified organic through CCOF, (California Certified Organic Farmers), winemaking for each site requires a slightly different approach because of distinct soils and tannin profiles.—
Mike DeSimone,
Robb Report,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Transportation Security Administration and local airport officials expect more than 32,000 passengers will fly out of Austin on Tuesday — thousands more than on a typical Tuesday.—
Alex Driggars,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Mar. 2026
-
That was also fairly typical of the Italian team.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discriminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discriminating. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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