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
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Recent Examples of distances
John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
While Apollo astronauts also circled the moon at even closer distances and spied some of the mysterious far side, the circumstances of the Artemis II flyby differ in a few ways.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
But that kind of presence would obliterate all the significant distances.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Capable of firing between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds per minute, the weapon can penetrate wooden boards from distances of several dozen yards.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
The impact of discovering alien intelligence will vary with the distances involved, with a Type 1 close encounter (UFO/UAP) having most impact due to proximity, Dick said.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Some cosmic rays come from the sun, some from elsewhere in our Milky Way, and others, called extragalactic cosmic rays, trace their origins across vast distances to other galaxies.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Instead of driving short distances (like to a nearby store), walk there.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026
These clouds can sweep particles — including fungal spores — across large distances, increasing the risk of inhalation.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
The portable help pendant elicited an immediate response from every room in my single-story three-bedroom ranch and worked perfectly at distances of 100 too 400 feet while outside of my home.
—John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026
While Apollo astronauts also circled the moon at even closer distances and spied some of the mysterious far side, the circumstances of the Artemis II flyby differ in a few ways.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 6 Apr. 2026
But that kind of presence would obliterate all the significant distances.
—Andrew Marantz, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Capable of firing between 1,000 and 2,000 rounds per minute, the weapon can penetrate wooden boards from distances of several dozen yards.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026
The impact of discovering alien intelligence will vary with the distances involved, with a Type 1 close encounter (UFO/UAP) having most impact due to proximity, Dick said.
—Leonard David, Space.com, 4 Apr. 2026
Some cosmic rays come from the sun, some from elsewhere in our Milky Way, and others, called extragalactic cosmic rays, trace their origins across vast distances to other galaxies.
—Phil Plait, Scientific American, 3 Apr. 2026
Instead of driving short distances (like to a nearby store), walk there.
—Jenny McCoy, SELF, 1 Apr. 2026
These clouds can sweep particles — including fungal spores — across large distances, increasing the risk of inhalation.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distances
Noun
-
In the years since then, Cordes and his team have followed nearly three hundred individual coral colonies within sixteen kilometres of the spill, recording minuscule changes in color, branch lengths, and physical integrity.—
Jeffrey Marlow,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
-
While some of the lengths Amanda went to acquire such items may have been extreme, her interest was not.—
Rich Schapiro,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
That's why there's no greater joy in journalism than driving through the great expanses of the West.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
2 Apr. 2026
-
The world’s continents are fringed by vast expanses of sand and mud.—
David George Haskell,
Big Think,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The unconscious Moon retreats through your 12th House of Peace, trining take-charge Saturn in your 4th House of Care along the way.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
6 Apr. 2026
-
By Saturday night, geomagnetic activity weakens and retreats north, making aurora visibility in Iowa unlikely or very limited.—
Lucia Cheng,
Des Moines Register,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
OpenAI ditches video generation app Sora, and loses $1 billion from Disney.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Just ditches her completely because of peer pressure from his rich friends.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
31 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
-
It’s survived trends, closures, expansions, contractions and Charlotte’s constant identity shifts.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
-
This could be one of two major expansions of vocational education in the district.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The outside world recedes, giving way to a contemplative atmosphere where sound, light, and material work together to slow perception.—
Olga Garcia-Mayoral,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
-
For the Northern Hemisphere, winter recedes into spring, but in the Southern Hemisphere, it's reversed.—
Marina Johnson,
Louisville Courier Journal,
20 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 9 Apr. 2026.
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