DISTINGUISH Synonyms: 154 Similar and Opposite Words

distinguish

verb

di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wish

Definition of distinguish

as in to differentiate

to understand or point out the difference in even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to characterize

to be an important feature of a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to identify

to find out or establish the identity of learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to notice

to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to classify

to arrange or assign according to type on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity

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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 distinguish But Maine presents the ultimate test of whether voters this year will distinguish between the president and the rest of his party. — Megan Cassella, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 When monitoring growth, Chen and Ng are keen to distinguish between revenue potential and profitability. — Ashley Ogawa Clarke, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026 As the news cycle failed to die down, Obama tried to distinguish between the man and his remarks. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026 Teboul distinguished between students protesting over grievances and those who used the demonstrations as cover to steal. — Ariella Noveck, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distinguish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish

Verb

Clients now ask how to use AI wisely, differentiate their expertise, lead changing teams and make faster decisions without losing the human touch.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
As the fragrance boom continues to accelerate, beauty brands are looking for more ways to differentiate themselves, while many consumers are searching for long-lasting deeper, richer scents.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of differentiate

Verb

El Niño is a climate pattern characterized by warmer waters in the central and eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that spur changes in the atmosphere that can affect weather around the world.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
Physical description The oyamel fir is characterized by its straight gray trunk and narrow conical crown and typically grows between 40 and 60 meters (130–200 feet) tall.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of characterize

Verb

Under Sorrells, morale at the office is bleak and has resulted in an exodus, according to two veteran prosecutors who left the office and spoke on the condition they not be identified.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2026
About 42% of residents surveyed identified mental health as a top health challenge, and Gaston’s suicide rate also exceeds the state average.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of identify

Verb

Senior lineman/tight end Zavion Brown has noticed Litke’s growth.

— Michael Osipoff, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
As petrified parents filed into the warehouse-like church nestled in a strip mall and took seats on folding chairs, Michelle noticed a woman near the front, sitting alone.

— Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of notice

Verb

In an April 2026 live-fire exercise at Fort Hood, Texas, the Army demonstrated an autonomous sensor on one platform that detected and classified a hostile drone, then passed data and an engagement command to a weapon system on another platform.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
Trump also classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after receiving Bolsonaro at the White House — a move Lula’s administration opposed as a pretext for intervention.

— Eléonore Hughes, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026

Definition of classify

Verb

For many critics of Israel, particularly younger ones, the distinction between the country and its longtime leader has become difficult to discern.

— Eric Cortellessa, Time, 25 Oct. 2026
Cosmetic brands catering to these lifestyle shifts could see more uptake from the discerning consumer.

— Tracy Achonwa, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of discern

Verb

Neither team could find a flow from three-point range in the first half as the teams combined to shoot five for 29 from deep — three of 16 by Golden State and two for 13 by Atlanta.

— Janie McCauley, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026
Of the first 15 plays for the Dallas offense, 10 were on the ground, and the Cowboys found success.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

The attacks, which saw 1,195 people killed and 251 taken into Gaza as hostages, triggered a major security crisis that led to three years of war on multiple fronts.

— Yarden Segev, NBC news, 27 Oct. 2026
The offense had a healthy-enough balance with the run game (more on that in a bit) to involve multiple pass-catchers, and the trio of leading receivers saw the immediate benefits.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Oct. 2026