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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Where is the line between mimicking behavior and feeling it, and how much does that distinction actually matter?
—
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 16 May 2025
District attorney Jewell Harris Jr. said there’s a distinction between an acting superintendent and an interim position.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
However, Google is also updating the system to ensure a clearer distinction between primary, secondary, and tertiary tones, so a dark surface is paired with appropriately light text label colors, for example.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 15 May 2025
However, as with many tentpoles, these films have largely avoided a nom in the coveted Best Picture category (the sole distinction being Black Panther).
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 16 May 2025
District attorney Jewell Harris Jr. said there’s a distinction between an acting superintendent and an interim position.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025
However, Google is also updating the system to ensure a clearer distinction between primary, secondary, and tertiary tones, so a dark surface is paired with appropriately light text label colors, for example.
—Gabriel Zamora, PC Magazine, 15 May 2025
However, as with many tentpoles, these films have largely avoided a nom in the coveted Best Picture category (the sole distinction being Black Panther).
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
Sustaining excellence in sports is incredibly difficult.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
22 May 2025
-
The 2025 Cannes Film Festival has evolved far beyond its origins as a celebration of cinematic excellence.—
Pooja Shah,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Minnesota trailed at halftime thanks to a 25-15 advantage for the Warriors on the glass and a 17-8 lead in free throws made.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
13 May 2025
-
The researchers found that the flamingos use the motion of water to their advantage, combining techniques to funnel water—and the invertebrates within it—to their mouths.—
Sara Hashemi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
13 May 2025
Noun
-
Each year teams of anonymous Michelin inspectors scour tasting menu restaurants, food stalls, neighborhood spots, wine bars and beyond for its compendium that can rate restaurants from one to three stars: accolades widely recognized as one of the highest achievements in the restaurant industry.—
Stephanie Breijo,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
-
On Instagram, the restaurant’s owner Tuan Le expressed gratitude to the Michelin Guide and to customers for the accolade.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
By strategically leveraging its dominance in PCs and cloud computing, Microsoft is set to redefine enterprise AI.—
Janakiram MSV,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
Either result will represent a change from the recent dominance of a brilliant Real Madrid, who have won the biggest prize in six of the past 11 seasons.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
The one-time $60 million equity award is in non-qualified stock options that will vest after three years, with no additional annual equity awards during the first three years of his employment.—
Sriparna Roy,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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The royal couple heard speeches and watched a film before presenting awards — the King presenting the Mark Shand Award and Queen Camilla giving the Tara Award, named after an elephant befriended by her brother.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
The difference between current and voltage can be visualized by a conveyor belt carrying boxes of a uniform size.—
Erik Kobayashi-Solomon,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
-
This, along with Stoke’s physicality and directness, gave them a point of difference — something nobody else had.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Florida played from behind all of Game 1, failed to get any separation in Game 2 and had to rally from multiple two-goal deficits in Game 3.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
15 May 2025
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One of the biggest distinctions between a dedicated business owner and someone simply with some side freelance income is the separation of business and personal funds.—
Vlad Rusz,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2025
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 27 May. 2025.
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