1
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
2
as in to characterize
to be an important feature of
a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinguish
During the Biden administration, HSI took steps to rebrand itself and set up its own website to try to distinguish its work from deportations.
—
Andy Rose 19 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Hang them in a different direction to distinguish between clean and reusable clothes.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Pack argued that quality is precisely what distinguishes his film from modern, perhaps more politicized documentaries on Najaf and Fallujah.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Before that time many devices, ornaments and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Andy Rose 19 Hr Ago, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2025
Hang them in a different direction to distinguish between clean and reusable clothes.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Nov. 2025
Pack argued that quality is precisely what distinguishes his film from modern, perhaps more politicized documentaries on Najaf and Fallujah.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 8 Nov. 2025
Before that time many devices, ornaments and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.
—Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish
Verb
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In the below interview, Lockhart dives further into differentiating the stories, connecting the dots with very specific references to both books set on Beechwood Island, and where the hope lies in her newest novel, now out in bookstores.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
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Paleontologists have long wrestled with how to differentiate between male and female dinosaurs based on their fossils.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Steering away from the Banda music that has characterized her sound and biggest hits, the Mexican-American singer experiments with reggae, R&B, and folk cumbia on this eight-track set that also includes powerful audio affirmations by the singer.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
8 Nov. 2025
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The two-hour-plus interview was characterized by Carlson’s failure to directly challenge Fuentes’s points.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Witnesses said a silver Ford sedan fled the scene, and detectives later identified the driver as 57-year-old Humberto Munoz Gatica of Laguna Niguel, according to The Register.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
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The Tarrant County Medical Examiner will publicly identify the person who died.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Harvey brings a distinctive approach to the nuclear narrative, one shaped by childhood memories of hearing about French President Jacques Chirac and the Rainbow Warrior bombing, but noticing the absence of First Nations voices in those stories.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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Victims may not notice until much later, when more money has been taken.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The ratings group classifies 17 Republican Senate seats as solid Republican, with only two likely Republican and one as leans Republican.—
Mandy Taheri,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Furthermore, policymakers and procurement officials now classify technologies by urgency.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And among the less conversationally direct, the topic often seems to lurk on the fringes as locals in other countries try to more delicately approach politics and discern how US travelers feel about what’s going on at home.—
Terry Ward,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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With everything from heli-skiing adventures to après dining with Michelin credentials and exclusive mountaintop clubs, the Centennial State has something to satisfy every traveler’s discerning tastes.—
Lydia Price,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The ones who needed to leave their mother tongue in order to find their true voice.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
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More on the science behind the portfolio diet A few small studies led by Jenkins in 2003, including the trial that introduced the diet to the world, found an association between following the portfolio diet and a lower risk of heart disease and stroke.—
Renée Onque,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But travelers could still see flight cuts even if the government were to reopen next week, as the FAA’s order requires airlines to cancel flights days in advance.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
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Roaches were seen in the restrooms.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinguish. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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