1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accolade
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
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6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
But legal scholars have noted that the distinction between Title 10 and Title 50 activities is increasingly blurry.
—
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The company reasoned that in modern military AI architectures, the distinction between the cloud and the edge is no longer all that defined.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
This distinction matters because militia service was one of the earliest ways Americans linked armed defense to political standing.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Steyer, too, drew a distinction between the people of Israel and the country’s government.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
The company reasoned that in modern military AI architectures, the distinction between the cloud and the edge is no longer all that defined.
—Ross Andersen, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2026
This distinction matters because militia service was one of the earliest ways Americans linked armed defense to political standing.
—Ed Gaskin, Boston Herald, 1 Mar. 2026
Steyer, too, drew a distinction between the people of Israel and the country’s government.
—Linh Tat, Daily News, 28 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
Mercy named to Newsweek list Newsweek magazine named the Mercy Hospital Northwest Arkansas in Rogers one of the World's Best Hospitals, recognizing it for its ongoing commitment to high-quality care, patient experience and clinical excellence among top-tier hospitals worldwide.—
Mark Mondier,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Speaker applications open for 2027 safety conference Safety experts will have the opportunity to share their insights and help elevate safety excellence in the workplace during the Northwest Indiana Business RoundTable 2027 Beyond Safety Conference.—
Post-Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Polymer solar cells offer advantages Researchers have also maintained that polymer solar cells offer advantages such as light weight, flexibility, and solution processability, but their practical application has long been limited by insufficient operational stability and performance.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
-
The ownership depth and breadth is a huge strategic advantage.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The series pits chefs from around the nation — many with major accolades such as James Beard Awards and Michelin stars — in a single-elimination, bracket-style tournament.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Mar. 2026
-
But then the day that this film got to the peak of its accolades and recognition in the world was exactly the peak of the massacres happening in Iran.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Lor’s diving dominance Champlin Park freshman Pengxu Lor crushed the competition in the 1-meter diving finals.—
Andrew Cornelius,
Twin Cities,
1 Mar. 2026
-
That dominance seems like forever ago as the tables have turned the last two seasons; TCU notched its fifth straight victory over the Bears Sunday.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Contributing editor Sarah Khan is an award-winning travel writer based in New York City.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Mar. 2026
-
For example, one study compared the traits of people who had received the Canadian Medal of Bravery – a national award given to people who have risked their own lives to save another person – to a control group of people who were similar in demographic characteristics.—
Catherine A. Sanderson,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The difference between the two teams in the table could be more than just one point after this weekend’s encounter.—
Graham Ruthven,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Bridges later established the Ruby Bridges Foundation to promote respect and appreciation for people’s differences.—
Susan DeGrane,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Number two is a clear separation of religion from state, which is a prerequisite to democracy.—
Scott Pelley,
CBS News,
2 Mar. 2026
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Their young children are staying with grandma for the night, and Vida — the more grounded and maternal parent — is having a hard time with the separation.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
12 Nov. 2024
-
Zurich said the Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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