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
For now, at least, that distinction belongs to Anthropic.
—
Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
The Rockies finished 43-119 last season, narrowly avoiding the distinction of being the worst team since baseball adopted a 162-game schedule in 1961.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The Zoo’s Response Zoo officials drew a clear distinction between aggression and curiosity.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
Self-distinction, on the other hand, requires the system to close itself off.
—Amanda Gefter, Quanta Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 11 Apr. 2026
The Rockies finished 43-119 last season, narrowly avoiding the distinction of being the worst team since baseball adopted a 162-game schedule in 1961.
—Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 10 Apr. 2026
The Zoo’s Response Zoo officials drew a clear distinction between aggression and curiosity.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 10 Apr. 2026
Self-distinction, on the other hand, requires the system to close itself off.
—Amanda Gefter, Quanta Magazine, 10 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
Adapting and thriving There have been drastic, sweeping changes to college athletics during this run of Pios excellence.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Backed by deep domain expertise in acoustic engineering and manufacturing excellence, Ultra Maritime continues to lead the evolution of sonobuoy technology, according to the company.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz has proved its biggest strategic advantage in the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Penguins opted to sit Crosby and several other regulars after clinching a playoff berth for the first time since the 2021-22 season and home ice advantage throughout the first round.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Over the course of her career, Bhosle was nominated for two Grammys and was awarded the Dadasaheb Phalke award - India’s top arts accolade and also the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian honour.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Always more about the team than individual accolades, Kon Knueppel couldn’t help but acknowledge the trajectory.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Ultimately, replacing the dominance of US defense equipment in the Gulf is unlikely, but expect the web of alliances and hardware purchases to become increasingly diverse.—
Matthew Martin,
semafor.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
The United States, Jakes argues, concurrently went to war to reassert its dominance in the Gulf and instead handed Iran a platform to start collecting tolls in yuan and cryptocurrency—anything, that is, except dollars.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Since the 2018 reforms began requiring the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights to report awards and settlements related to formal complaints, there have been eight payments made by House members' offices, totaling just over $400,000.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
-
At this year's LBI Awards, held at the Westside Cultural Arts Center on March 21, stylist Tamela LeMieux took home two awards.—
Nakell Williams,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The difference came down to shot-making.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Adding your mattress to your spring cleaning checklist can make a real difference.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Often, threats of family separation work hand in hand with medical neglect, Juburi told me, persuading families to accept deportation.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Federal rules require banks to review accounts and automatically protect certain amounts tied to federal benefit payments, but clear separation can reduce confusion and delays.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
13 Apr. 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 16 Apr. 2026.
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