distinguishes

Definition of distinguishesnext
present tense third-person singular of distinguish
1
as in differentiates
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 characterizes
to be an important feature of a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
4
5

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 distinguishes Lexington is the epicenter of western North Carolina barbecue (also known as Piedmont style), which distinguishes itself from the other half of the state by adding ketchup to its signature sweet and tangy sauce. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 10 May 2026 Differentiating factors What distinguishes Cohen most from his competitors is his nuanced understanding of state mandates. Mercury News & East Bay Times Editorial Boards, Mercury News, 8 May 2026 Fashion-first Positioning Nail Reformation’s approach distinguishes it within a crowded category. Advertorial, Footwear News, 8 May 2026 Industry vernacular distinguishes the conventional mortgage as qualified mortgage, or QM. Jeff Lazerson, Oc Register, 7 May 2026 And look, the only facts that distinguishes this case from those people buying things on Amazon or posting things on Amazon is not any particular facts that are not visible to the public. NBC news, 3 May 2026 What distinguishes the firm, according to Sirak, is its ability to connect high-level strategy with practical implementation. Ethan Stone, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026 Her mother distinguishes what constitutes an emergency. Literary Hub, 29 Apr. 2026 What distinguishes Camper, at least musically, is his deference to classic R&B signifiers without kowtowing to pastiche. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguishes
Verb
  • This curation differentiates eCosmetics as a business leader in the indie beauty movement.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 8 May 2026
  • What differentiates you from your competition in this race?
    Mark Dee May 3, Idaho Statesman, 3 May 2026
Verb
  • While the Journal characterizes the loss of funding as a death knell for the organization, LIV officials have been quick to point out that the league has been increasing its revenue this year.
    Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
  • But no such device exists for the way Trump characterizes it — at least not when math is done correctly.
    ABC News, ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While the city identifies it as a major commercial corridor, the last large-scale development — a series of hotels — came 10 years ago, City Manager Paul Kramer told the City Council on Monday.
    Taylor O'Connor, Kansas City Star, 14 May 2026
  • The accompanying wall label identifies the dress as a 2025 edition of the original 2023 design, although only Hadari is credited as its creator.
    Lilyanna D'Amato, ARTnews.com, 13 May 2026
Verb
  • But Tova notices that Marcellus has left something behind, the ring.
    Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 8 May 2026
  • The tracker, which reflects information listed in the filings themselves, shows the latest mass layoff notices companies in the United States reported to state governments.
    Dian Zhang, USA Today, 4 May 2026
Verb
  • The Controlled Substances Act classifies drugs from Schedule I to Schedule V based on their potential for abuse, addictiveness and medical use.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 9 May 2026
  • Armstrong reported the directive explicitly classifies the approval of municipal ordinances as nonpartisan political activity — a category the directive does not prohibit military members from engaging in.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026
Verb
  • Just as the Mayor himself has become a figure who transcends city politics, Richards sees the task ahead as one that will have wider implications.
    Molly Fischer, New Yorker, 11 May 2026
  • In addition to expanding the denim and T-shirt offerings, Sung sees opportunities to expand footwear and accessories.
    Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 11 May 2026
Verb
  • Kamara ranks seventh for take-ons per 90 minutes among Premier League midfielders and fourth for fouls suffered.
    Gregg Evans, New York Times, 13 May 2026
  • Austin, Texas ranks third in the nation, but despite high costs of flights to get into the city.
    Irene Wright, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • What begins as a small con deepens when the painter’s shrewd agent (Gilles Lellouche) spots an opportunity, encouraging Suzanne to continue the deception as a way to revive his client’s creativity — and bankroll them both.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 12 May 2026
  • His company runs a network of after school learning centers where an adaptive AI tutoring system spots those cracks and customizes lessons in real time based on how each student responds.
    TIME Contributors, Time, 29 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Distinguishes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinguishes. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on distinguishes

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster