1
as in retreating
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2
as in discarding
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distancing
Verb
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Yesterday seemed much more like a team retreating by choice, both through in-game changes and by the sheer fear of surrendering another lead — a fear that became a self-fulfilling prophecy.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025 -
The video ends with federal agents retreating into a nearby building as protesters advanced toward their position, shouting and cheering.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Divide plants into clumps with three to five vigorous shoots each, discarding any small, weak, or woody portions.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
29 Sep. 2025
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Throughout the season, Boy Kavalier’s real intentions begin to take over Neverland Research Island after successfully securing the alien specimens that the USCSS Maginot had been researching in space, discarding his decade-long work on the hybrids.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The whole image is a set of geometric elements receding precisely, which either or both ruins or/and enhances a little of the painting’s magic for me.—
Kate Colby
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
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Just as this recent wave of protests was receding, leaving behind deep concern and uncertainty, one of the country’s most beloved bands — Just a Band — was staging a reunion at a party celebrating analytical webzine Africa Is a Country’s first print anthology.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Rolling Stone,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Time will tell if Humberto will be swinging its partner round and round, flinging it harmlessly out to sea or closer to land.—
Chris Dolce,
CNN Money,
25 Sep. 2025
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His second-best was flinging the ball up and hoping for a pass interference call, which the Buffs (and refs) obliged three times on the Cowboys’ first four third-down tries.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
21 Sep. 2025
Verb
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During a neighborhood meeting Monday, developer Caleb Roope was able to soothe some concerns for neighbors, such as dispelling rumors that the complex would include low-income housing.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Sep. 2025
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Political leaders play a crucial role in either encouraging or dispelling violence through their public statements.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Surveillance footage from the home reportedly caught a person dumping the tampons from the back of a truck while the ex — also a firefighter, according to the News-Journal — was at work.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
7 Oct. 2025
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This system was dumping rain on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico Tuesday morning and expected to emerge over the Bay of Campeche later in the day.—
Alex Harris,
Miami Herald,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Hangers That Don’t Match Since her clients hire her to help create a clean, organized look, Tonia Tomlin of Sorted Out, a professional organizing company in Dallas, Texas, heads right for the closets and starts ditching all hangers that don’t match.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
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Great for saving space and ditching questionable hotel mini toiletries.—
Julie Rousseau,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
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On Friday, Schottenheimer spoke to reporters and explained his decision, shedding light on his relationship with Diggs heading into Week 5 against the New York Jets.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Even with the old four-corner chicane removed to quicken the final sector, this remains one of the sport’s most physical tests with drivers often shedding 4 to 8 pounds over the two-hour race.—
Jenny Catlin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Distancing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distancing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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