1
as in advantages
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in accolades
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in awards
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinctions
Critics say those distinctions are arbitrary and unfair, being based on outdated assumptions and bad science.
—
Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
To add to the complexity, smoke taint is inflected by subtle distinctions between grape varietals, too.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Shanahan argues that, as the midterm elections approach, other Republicans could follow a similar path—using moments of public rupture to draw sharper distinctions between themselves and a President who has shown little tolerance for dissent within his own ranks.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
Crossfire’s system made those distinctions based on the drone’s color video feed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
But look longer, and subtle distinctions emerge.
—Carmen F De Terenzio, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
There are two sub-series within Call of Duty—Black Ops and Modern Warfare—that are made by different studios and have some visual distinctions.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 18 Dec. 2025
For Geurtsen, these distinctions show up daily.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Well, there's a couple of really important distinctions.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
Kevin Krause, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
To add to the complexity, smoke taint is inflected by subtle distinctions between grape varietals, too.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
Shanahan argues that, as the midterm elections approach, other Republicans could follow a similar path—using moments of public rupture to draw sharper distinctions between themselves and a President who has shown little tolerance for dissent within his own ranks.
—Callum Sutherland, Time, 28 Dec. 2025
Crossfire’s system made those distinctions based on the drone’s color video feed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 24 Dec. 2025
But look longer, and subtle distinctions emerge.
—Carmen F De Terenzio, Miami Herald, 18 Dec. 2025
There are two sub-series within Call of Duty—Black Ops and Modern Warfare—that are made by different studios and have some visual distinctions.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 18 Dec. 2025
For Geurtsen, these distinctions show up daily.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Well, there's a couple of really important distinctions.
—CBS News, 7 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinctions
Noun
-
That flexibility is one of the biggest advantages travelers have today.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Those advantages will show up Sunday.—
Matt Barrows,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Come playoff time, such accolades matter not.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
9 Nov. 2025
-
But beyond the wins, losses and accolades, there was the man who remained in his players’ lives, through good times and tough times.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Sabonis missed five of his first six shots while being guarded by Gobert, a 7-foot-1 center with four Defensive Player of the Year awards.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Cannes-premiering film rates higher with critics than audiences so far but is the biggest ever box office for director Lynne Ramsey and an awards-season magnet for star Jennifer Lawrence’s career-defining performance.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Just as personal vices can shape the course of an individual life, so too can national vices influence our collective experience, maybe as much as our virtues—or possibly even more.—
Dan Brooks,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Running is a means of developing all these good virtues and habits.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
29 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Spanish chef’s fine-dining concept is an homage to the glories of the world’s oceans, with a strong emphasis on the bounty of the local waters that includes lionfish, Mahi Mahi, and an entire menu section devoted entirely to various renditions of conch.—
Jesse Ashlock,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Yates also agreed that the Chinese see a blueprint for their future in their past glories.—
Timothy Nerozzi,
The Washington Examiner,
1 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For prizes of $50,000 or more, you are required to claim in person at the Hoosier Lottery headquarters in Indianapolis.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Their popularity isn’t from winning expensive prizes, or because competitions pay big.—
Anna Rahmanan,
thehustle.co,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
So this is to the ones who are sticking to their values in difficult moments.—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Money-minded Venus is squaring curative Chiron, pushing you to match your spending habits with your values (without shaming yourself or others).—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The 37-year-old Stafford received 31 first-place votes to Maye’s 18 to earn All-Pro honors for the first time in his 17-year career.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Both have since combined for three first-team All-Pro honors and a Pro Bowl selection.—
Alanis Thames,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Distinctions.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinctions. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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