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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 in the rush to improve efficiency through cognitive offloading, many leaders have failed to distinguish between tasks that can be automated versus decisions that require human judgment. — Kelly Huang, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026 What distinguished their negotiations was that Kissinger and Zhou each established a true intellectual appreciation for the other as a partner. — Orville Schell, Foreign Affairs, 16 Sep. 2026 Increasingly grotesque and comical horror-flick kills are one of the elements that distinguish Amazon’s Reacher series from the pair of Tom Cruise–starring features adapted from Lee Child’s novels previously. — Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 Lee has been under pressure to distinguish Hong Kong from regional rivals and mainland Chinese metropolises, especially after Beijing’s tightening grip tainted Hong Kong’s image as a freewheeling financial center. — ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for distinguish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish

Verb

Every hour spent maintaining infrastructure that isn’t differentiating is an hour not spent on the work that actually moves the business forward.

— Nick Chandi, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2026
So, for example, 4 NAZA would mean four other people killed — women, children, elderly, the term doesn’t differentiate.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of differentiate

Verb

The Nevada Independent previously reported on Thursday that the Nevada secretary of state’s office received the seven subpoenas, which the office characterized as being from the FBI.

— Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026
Latvia characterized the Leipzig attack in even stronger terms.

— Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of characterize

Verb

Programs such as HyCAT are intended to provide more frequent opportunities to test technologies in realistic flight conditions, potentially allowing developers to identify problems earlier and iterate more quickly.

— Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Sep. 2026
Plaintiffs sought information identifying people involved in conceiving, creating, and carrying out the fund.

— Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of identify

Verb

Diners will notice Postino’s custom millwork, camera wall and artsy design elements that call attention to Plaza Midwood’s past.

— Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 17 Sep. 2026
Whether viewing in person at the Ryman over the livestream, fans definitely noticed, and did not hold it against him, given the firepower that followed, and perhaps some empathy with what Stapleton might have been going through.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of notice

Verb

The department does not classify its calls by snake type, the spokesperson said.

— Haley Parsley, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
The petition sought to classify data centers as industrial nuisances, arguing that a ban would protect residents’ property and preserve city resources, such as water and electricity.

— Cuyler Dunn, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of classify

Verb

Gerber’s The Shards costars Homer Gere and Hayes Warner pressed the model for more information about the doll as part of the game, which requires actors to discern whether their costars are sharing true or false stories.

— Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Sep. 2026
Rod Patrick, known for its wide spectrum of available sizes among the 15,000 pairs of in-stock boots, sells premium and bespoke boots to a discerning client who appreciates attentive service.

— Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of discern

Verb

At least 211 people were rescued from an Indonesian ferry that caught fire last month in rough seas near the Indonesian tourist island of Bali, while one person was found dead and four others remained missing.

— IMAN SATRIA, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026
Later’s 2026 research on Gen-Z creator ROI found that trust and authentic creator relationships matter more to conversions than simply maximizing reach, while over-scripting creators can undermine that trust.

— Sergi Cerrato, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of find

Verb

Emmys nights one and two saw Widow’s Bay pick up a whopping eight trophies, one short of The Studio’s total of nine last year, and this evening might end with Widow’s Bay grabbing a lot of the same awards The Studio did last year.

— Vulture Staff, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2026
The bookshelf becomes a collective record of the times, ways of seeing, forms that flourished during particular eras, and also questions that persist across centuries.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026