DISTIL Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

distill

verb

di-ˈstil

variants also distil

Definition of distill

as in to drip

to fall or let fall in or as if in drops the basement walls distill water every time it rains heavily

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to filter

to remove usually visible impurities from distill the water before pouring it in the steam iron

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of distill White House advisor Michael Kratsios said last week that Moonshot distilled Anthropic’s Fable model to develop Kimi K3, which is one of several open-weight offerings out of China that are cheaper than those of OpenAI or Anthropic. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 27 July 2026 Of’s Frans bloomers, made to order from deadstock European fabric; mosaic Murano glasses, created using the Italian millefiori technique—each glass is one of one, distilling centuries of craft into a singular vessel. — Alex Eagle, Vogue, 26 July 2026 The latest release might be one of the most intriguing, however, because this is the first release from the brand that is composed entirely of whiskey distilled at its small Whiskey Row location on Main Street in Louisville. — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 26 July 2026 White House accuses Moonshot of distilling Anthropic’s Fable. — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 23 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for distill

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distill

Verb

The couple has to regularly wipe down the exterior and drip tray, remove and clean the nozzles and sanitize the soda lines using a beverage line cleaner.

— Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
The shots are busy with equipment—boom mikes, bulb-flashes, wires and cables dripping like innards or snakes, the hungry Cyclopean eye of a mounted camera.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Definition of drip

Verb

Blending coming-of-age drama with a dreamlike, science-fiction edge, the film filters Argentina’s economic instability and the pull of the digital world through the perspective of a child searching for an escape.

— Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 30 July 2026
For starters, neither file is filtered beyond building classification code.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 30 July 2026

Definition of filter

Verb

Unlike many of its Big Tech peers, Apple isn’t pouring billions into building new data centers.

— Lisa Eadicicco, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
By late July, four of seven new towers were already standing; the machinery for the highway-side terminal was complete; the village terminal foundations were poured; and the new cabins had arrived.

— David Caraccio Updated July 31, Sacbee.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of pour

Verb

Details of the investigation remain sparse, and Belichick did little to clarify matters, appearing to sidestep questions about how Lombardi’s indefinite absence could affect the team.

— Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
Russian Ambassador to Iraq Maxim Maksimov clarified that Iraq didn’t make any formal request for S-400s.

— Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of clarify

Verb

After Klee announced his death on July 25, tributes flowed on social media for the little dog whose cancer diagnosis was revealed in May.

— Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026
Quixotic aerialists twisted, turned and unfolded above the crowd, using flowing fabric and butterfly-inspired movements to mirror the creatures being celebrated.

— Sophia Buonpane, Kansas City Star, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of flow

Verb

Engineers used collaborative digital environments to evaluate the design, identify potential issues, and refine components before manufacturing test hardware.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 21 July 2026
This, in turn, can help refine our bigger-picture understanding of how stars and galaxies formed.

— Damien Pine, Scientific American, 21 July 2026

Definition of refine

Verb

The artisan copper stills used to extract essential oils and hydrosols are handcrafted by Copper Pro in Ukraine, incorporating a unique heating element that can be plugged in rather than using an open flame.

— Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
During processing, the juices are extracted from the fruit, and the remaining flesh and fiber are discarded.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026

Definition of extract

Verb

Normal strategy in disaster situations is boiling water to purify it but this uses valuable fuel resources.

— Simon Heptinstall, New Atlas, 9 July 2026
Next, the raw material is handed over to Talga Group, a specialist firm that purifies the recycled feedstock into pristine, battery-grade graphite.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 July 2026

Definition of purify

Browse Nearby Words

distensions

distill

distilled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Distill.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distill. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of distill

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on distill

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

élan

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes