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
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 distinction
And that's an important distinction.
—
Dan Zaksheske Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
While other Cowboys cheerleaders have gone on to raise future DCC squad members, Billie Gosdin Mitchell holds a special distinction.
—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
But a slaughter of all the men, without distinction among them?
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Indiana is without the Las Vegas distinction of two WNBA titles in the last three years, but Indiana does have Clark.
—
Terence Moore,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Dan Zaksheske Outkick,
FOXNews.com,
22 June 2026
While other Cowboys cheerleaders have gone on to raise future DCC squad members, Billie Gosdin Mitchell holds a special distinction.
—
Julie Tremaine,
PEOPLE,
21 June 2026
But a slaughter of all the men, without distinction among them?
—
David Denby,
New Yorker,
21 June 2026
Indiana is without the Las Vegas distinction of two WNBA titles in the last three years, but Indiana does have Clark.
—
Terence Moore,
Forbes.com,
21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
There’s no doubt that Damien safety Gavin Williams, a USC commit, will be the standard for excellence this coming season.
-
Messi’s excellence aside, Algeria held up fairly well against Argentina, at least on the stat sheet.
Noun
-
Dalal said their son played there daily with his friends, taking advantage of a club policy that allows children under five to enter without a membership.
-
The comedian, 38, best known for his role as the acerbic gay best friend Elliott Goss in HBO’s Search Party, chose our meeting place to take advantage of the balmy late-May weather and to say goodbye to the neighborhood.
Noun
-
The James Beard Awards, among the highest accolades in the American culinary industry, were announced Monday night, turning winning restaurants into must-visit destinations.
-
His numerous accolades include 11 Primetime Emmys and five Directors Guild of America awards.
Noun
-
SpaceX just notched a remarkable launch-dominance milestone.
-
At the time of merger talks there was speculation the Gurnee Mariano’s wouldn’t make the cut because of the nearby Jewel’s long-time — the company name has been around since 1932 –market dominance across the region.
Noun
-
ElAttrache’s patients include 18 of 29 players who won the MVP or Cy Young awards over the past 10 years.
-
The award will recognize a singular work selected from qualifying American narrative television and film that address environmental issues through creativity and possibility.
Noun
-
Premium ticket sales made up the difference, and 60% of Delta’s total revenue now comes from higher-margin lines like premium cabins, loyalty programs, and cargo.
-
Stay Vigilant While bed bugs are notoriously tricky to eliminate, layered treatment strategies can make all the difference.
Noun
-
Hertel succeeded former Director Robert Gordon, who resigned and received a $155,000 separation deal.
-
News of the separation broke in September, with Kidman filing for divorce by month’s end and the pair reportedly planning on co-parenting classes and submitting a child support worksheet.
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.
-
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.
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
