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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discriminating
Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
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
ABC News, 3 May 2026
The law was a foundational step to prevent government from discriminating against citizens on the basis of their beliefs.
—David Mislin, The Conversation, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminating
Adjective
Insurers, alerted to the problem and granted permission to respond, grew more discriminating in their underwriting and more probing in their investigations.
—Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025
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
Verb
As the chief justice said 20 years ago, the best way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race, which is what these lines were doing.
—ABC News, 3 May 2026
The law was a foundational step to prevent government from discriminating against citizens on the basis of their beliefs.
—David Mislin, The Conversation, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discriminating
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discriminating
Adjective
-
The insurance commissioner heads up a department that protects consumers from excessive or discriminatory insurance rates.—
Teagan Davidge,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
The unanimous vote followed sometimes emotional testimony at a City Council meeting from Angelenos about how their lives had been shaken by discriminatory traffic stops and searches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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As plants use rainwater to grow, their leaves pick up the rain’s characteristic ratio of hydrogen isotopes—atoms with the same number of protons and different numbers of neutrons.—
Hannah Richter,
Scientific American,
7 May 2026
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Some of these shortcomings are characteristic of early-release hardware, where first adopters often have to navigate rough edges as features mature.—
Michael Lydick,
PC Magazine,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Even other celebrities have trouble differentiating the pair.—
Laura Lane,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
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The Mexican eatery splits its menu into three, differentiating between meat dishes, vegetarian items and vegan dishes to avoid any potential confusion.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And disparities between a storm's classification, for example, and the actual damage on the ground could lead to unfair situations, disaster experts warn.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
7 May 2026
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How Florida’s new voting maps favor white voters Voting rights groups have criticized the new Florida maps as giving an unfair advantage to the GOP and the white communities that make up the majority of the party’s voter base.—
Raisa Habersham,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The second distinguishing feature of liveblogs is their tone of voice, which is often dialogic in nature.—
Daniel Jackson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Technology enables simultaneous production of hydrogen The team also pointed out that this technology enables the simultaneous production of hydrogen and chemical feedstocks such as formate, distinguishing it from conventional water electrolysis processes that produce only hydrogen.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Since 1992, Ronnie has been the captain of this distinctive part of New Orleans’ culinary history.—
George Motz,
Southern Living,
6 May 2026
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The beachside Beauvallon Sur Mer, together with its lounge and rooftop, was created by interior architect Dorothée Delaye—the creative known for infusing hotels with a distinctive French flair.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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The rooms Designed like authentic Goan houses, each with its own distinct colors and landscaping, the resort seems quiet even when full (conference groups love this place).—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 May 2026
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Bloomberg adds that Italian health care costs a few thousand dollars per year, and living in the south offers distinct tax benefits, such as a 7% flat annual tax for foreign retirees who move to smaller towns in less developed areas.—
Alex Ledsom,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Adjective
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In typical fashion, singer and fashion powerhouse Rihanna shut down the carpet as the final guest to arrive much earlier than in year’s past.—
Beatrice Dupuy,
Chicago Tribune,
5 May 2026
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Comparing local rents to a broad measure of monthly ownership cost for a buyer – mortgage, taxes, insurance and maintenance – Zillow found the typical California renter in the six metros theoretically saved $191 monthly compared with owning.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discriminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discriminating. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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