1
as in lengths
the space or amount of space between two points, lines, surfaces, or objects
the distance between the earth and the sun is about 93 million miles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in expanses
a wide space or area
a region marked by great, featureless distances
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in retreats
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
2
as in ditches
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of distances
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
For example, Iran’s coastal areas offer spots for launching anti-ship missiles, which can be fired from close distances and provide little time for a defensive response.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
This is a true three-row vehicle that can carry six people (especially if at least two are kids) and luggage over significant distances in reasonable comfort.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
At shorter distances, the higher-energy virtual particles interact in new and different ways.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
National park rangers say visitors often underestimate park distances and should plan realistic itineraries with backup options.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
The peculiarity of Ouédraogo’s seemingly straightforward and classical practice is to evoke distances, conjuring wide spaces between the images—which is to say, between the characters depicted in them—and to bring those spaces to life.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
This specific form of light, known as Lyman-alpha, is produced when hydrogen atoms are energized by radiation from young, hot stars, creating a distinctive ultraviolet glow that can be traced across vast cosmic distances.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Minimum distances between sound-producing units and sensitive uses like residential are there to help mitigate the sound but also vibration, according to Curley.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
The first one, the metric, describes distances and angles measured along the surface itself.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 13 Mar. 2026
For example, Iran’s coastal areas offer spots for launching anti-ship missiles, which can be fired from close distances and provide little time for a defensive response.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
This is a true three-row vehicle that can carry six people (especially if at least two are kids) and luggage over significant distances in reasonable comfort.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 12 Mar. 2026
At shorter distances, the higher-energy virtual particles interact in new and different ways.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026
National park rangers say visitors often underestimate park distances and should plan realistic itineraries with backup options.
—Iona Brannon, Travel + Leisure, 11 Mar. 2026
The peculiarity of Ouédraogo’s seemingly straightforward and classical practice is to evoke distances, conjuring wide spaces between the images—which is to say, between the characters depicted in them—and to bring those spaces to life.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 Mar. 2026
This specific form of light, known as Lyman-alpha, is produced when hydrogen atoms are energized by radiation from young, hot stars, creating a distinctive ultraviolet glow that can be traced across vast cosmic distances.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 5 Mar. 2026
Minimum distances between sound-producing units and sensitive uses like residential are there to help mitigate the sound but also vibration, according to Curley.
—R. Christian Smith, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distances
Noun
-
The trial was closely watched beyond the Fort Worth courtroom as some legal experts and critics called it a test of the lengths the government can go to punish protesters.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
-
It was closely followed by legal experts and critics who called the proceedings a test of the lengths the government can go to punish protesters.—
Jamie Stengle,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Even the park entrance sign is surrounded by a bed of color, a stark contrast to the barren expanses that usually greet visitors.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
In his score, Wagner manipulates space and scale, suggesting intimate chambers and vast expanses of the North Atlantic with innumerable shadings of orchestration.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Around the world, spas are often physically inaccessible, retreats off-limits by design, and practitioners limited in their ability and training to see disabled bodies as deserving of the restoration everyone so desperately needs.—
Sophie Morgan,
Condé Nast Traveler,
15 Mar. 2026
-
But the novel ultimately retreats from these complicating questions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Meet the Acela Trucks Dispatcher 4×4, which ditches the four-door/short-bed arrangement found on the standard Gladiator for a single cab and a massive 7’x5′ flat-load bed.—
Byron Hurd,
The Drive,
11 Mar. 2026
-
This Jim Crow-era murder musical is the best kind of smart filmmaking, a barn-burner about religion and art and race that ditches the speeches for scenes of action and romance.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Several spacings and gaps were potential vermin entrances including spacing and gaps between floor boards, a vertical air gap along double front doors and on the ceiling above the ice cream chest freezer in the retail aisle.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
Updated January 23,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
More distant spacings will leave gaps in the bed.—
Neil Sperry,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The policies range from guardrails against online bullying to heart attack response training expansions and new uterine fibroid research funding.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
In just the past year, JPMorgan Chase, Wells Fargo, and Goldman Sachs have all announced significant expansions in the Dallas–Fort Worth region.—
Steven Fulop,
New York Daily News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Largely helmed by Teo Halm (SZA, Rosalía, Baby Keem), RAHM (Vince Staples), Solomonophonic (Ravyn Lenae, Carly Rae Jepsen), and Ederra, the production recedes and surges in lockstep with the singing.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
-
There is a 100% chance of precipitation during the day that recedes to 80% in the evening.—
Jordan Green,
Memphis Commercial Appeal,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sean, 17, deserts his post in the midst of the Iraq war and returns to England.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Isabel Greenberg, the upcoming adaptation follows a young bride named Cherry (scream queen Maika Monroe), whose husband (Amir El-Masry) deserts her in the care of the sexy Manfred (Nicholas Galitzine) and her maid, Hero (Emma Corrin).—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distances.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distances. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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