Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

distinguish

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of distinguish

1 to understand or point out the difference in
  • Even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds.
Synonyms of distinguish

difference, differentiate, discern, discriminate, separate
Words Related to distinguish

contradistinguish

comprehend, grasp, know, understand

divide, part, sever

demarcate, mark (off), set off
Near Antonyms of distinguish

confound, lump (together), mingle
Antonyms of distinguish

confuse, mistake, mix (up)
2 to be an important feature of
  • muffin recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity
Synonyms of distinguish

characterize, mark
Words Related to distinguish

differentiate

customize, individualize, particularize
3 to find out or establish the identity of
  • I learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra.
Synonyms of distinguish

finger, identify, pinpoint, single (out)
Words Related to distinguish

diagnose

determine, find

locate, pick out, place, recognize, spot

check, examine, inspect, investigate, notice, observe, scrutinize

betray, disclose, discover, reveal
Phrases Synonymous with distinguish

put one's finger on
Near Antonyms of distinguish

camouflage, conceal, disguise, hide

counterfeit, feign, sham, simulate
4 to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
  • I could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist.
Synonyms of distinguish

behold, catch, descry, discern, espy, eye, look (at), note, notice, observe, perceive, regard, remark, see, sight, spot, spy, view, witness
Words Related to distinguish

identify, make out, pick out, pick up

attend (to), consider, heed, mark, mind

study, watch

examine, inspect, scan, scrutinize, survey

glance (at), glimpse, peer (at)
Phrases Synonymous with distinguish

get a load of [slang], lay eyes on, set eyes on
Near Antonyms of distinguish

disregard, ignore, neglect, overpass, pass over

miss, overlook
5 to arrange or assign according to type
  • Please distinguish the specimens by acidity.
Synonyms of distinguish

assort, break down, categorize, class, classify, codify, compartment, compartmentalize, digest, distribute, grade, group, peg, place, range, rank, relegate, separate, sort, type
Words Related to distinguish

array, dispose, draw up, marshal (also marshall), order, organize, systematize

alphabetize, catalog (or catalogue), file, index, list, refer

pigeonhole, shelve

identify, recognize

cull, screen, set, sieve, sift, winnow

clump, cluster

recategorize, reclassify, regroup

subcategorize
Near Antonyms of distinguish

confuse, disarrange, jumble, lump, mix (up), scramble

misclassify, missort, mistype

Learn More about distinguish

  1. Dictionary: Definition of distinguish Spanish Central: Translation of distinguish Nglish: Translation of distinguish for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of distinguish for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up distinguish? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games