as in distinguishing
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group
the marching band's striking black-and-silver uniforms serve as its identifying mark for thousands of parade spectators
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in pinpointing
to find out or establish the identity of
sufficient forensic evidence to allow investigators to identify the perpetrator
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in associating
to think of (something) in combination
for some reason, he always identified the color red with flowers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of identifying
Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Another intriguing possibility is to wait until the wireless world’s progress to ever-shorter wavelengths finally hits the millimeter band, which is small enough to resolve most identifying details.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2020
Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
The first step is noticing your own reactivity threshold by identifying the precise moment when a partner’s tone, silence or phrasing triggers a flood of feeling that then drives your behavior.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Police used the video image to create a bulletin that led to one civilian and three police officers identifying Carroll, authorities said.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The city is also considering resurrecting the plans for the original desalination plant or identifying locations for additional plants, though questions remain about how much these facilities would cost.
—Michelle Hummel, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
Bailey was born male but had undergone a name change and had been identifying as female before the attack.
—Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Detransitioning, which involves no longer identifying as transgender or stopping medical transition, is rare.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 16 May 2026
Finch put his finger on the trouble during one of the regular-season ruts, identifying a moodiness that gets in the way of the type of surgical execution of game plans that the defending champion Oklahoma City and now San Antonio can consistently lean on.
—CBS News, 16 May 2026
However, the path to identifying Riggs was far from straightforward.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Adjective
There are also passports from Lithuania, Ukraine, the Czech Republic and Russia, with most identifying information blacked out.
—Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 18 Dec. 2025
Another intriguing possibility is to wait until the wireless world’s progress to ever-shorter wavelengths finally hits the millimeter band, which is small enough to resolve most identifying details.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 Jan. 2020
Verb
Furthermore, the experts are working on identifying other features in cosmological data that would point to complex shapes for the universe.
—Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
The first step is noticing your own reactivity threshold by identifying the precise moment when a partner’s tone, silence or phrasing triggers a flood of feeling that then drives your behavior.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Police used the video image to create a bulletin that led to one civilian and three police officers identifying Carroll, authorities said.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026
The city is also considering resurrecting the plans for the original desalination plant or identifying locations for additional plants, though questions remain about how much these facilities would cost.
—Michelle Hummel, The Conversation, 22 May 2026
Bailey was born male but had undergone a name change and had been identifying as female before the attack.
—Kelsie Cairns, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2026
Detransitioning, which involves no longer identifying as transgender or stopping medical transition, is rare.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC news, 16 May 2026
Finch put his finger on the trouble during one of the regular-season ruts, identifying a moodiness that gets in the way of the type of surgical execution of game plans that the defending champion Oklahoma City and now San Antonio can consistently lean on.
—CBS News, 16 May 2026
However, the path to identifying Riggs was far from straightforward.
—Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identifying
Verb
-
Goals scored is the next distinguishing factor in the event of a tie, with Liverpool having a five-goal advantage over Bournemouth by this metric.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
-
That's particularly true when distinguishing between addressing financial market functioning and supporting its dual inflation and employment goals.—
Jeff Cox,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
As a brand built on ethical fashion on a mission to improve the industry, Everlane—and its CEO—has sold its soul to the devil by associating itself with one (if not the) most polluting fast-fashion player in the world.—
Clara Ludmir,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
For background, the usual race idolaters expressed fierce outrage over Clark associating with Wallen, who once used a racial slur in 2021.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 May 2026
Adjective
-
What the Ohio State study adds is a direct comparison with urban warming in the same experiment, and a demonstration that even at the low intensities characteristic of ordinary residential lighting, light pollution wins.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2026
-
Living for today, everyone apparently agreed, was characteristic of a youth culture that was dropping out from a system and society responsible for cutting life short both at home and abroad.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
The data also reveal how tightly this contamination is concentrated around Kantamanto, pinpointing the market as the epicenter.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Footwear News,
28 May 2026
-
Cruising thousands of feet above the ground, peering out of the airplane window at the world below, and pinpointing all of the green football, baseball and soccer fields sprawled below.—
Shaun Goodwin
May 25,
Idaho Statesman,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
In manufacturing, the most valuable insights emerge from correlating data across multiple process steps and equipment types.—
Joel Scutchfield,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
Clearly, something correlating with a generational change is shaping this disease.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Spa Earlier in 2025, the hotel unveiled its new spa in partnership with the House of Guerlain, which brings its distinctive treatments to a select few of the world’s most luxurious hotels, including Rosewood Hong Kong and The OWO in London.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
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My Girandole earring best defines my aesthetic right now, subtly reimagining a Baroque Venetian motif through distinctive palettes of gemstones, diamonds and pearls to create pieces that feel personal, painterly and deeply material-driven rather than merely referential.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Verb
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From intelligent fraud monitoring to keeping transactions (and cash) flowing, tools like these are finding fresh applications of AI that help sellers maintain an advantage in a competitive marketplace.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
-
In a sea of prestige actresses doing dramedy, Byrne is a true comedic talent, sporting incredible instincts for finding the funniest angle for Sylvia to take in her line readings or gestures.—
Joe Reid,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Construction of the 1,911-mile transcontinental railroad connecting California with the eastern half of the United States began in 1863, while the nation was engaged in a bloody civil war, and was completed six years later when its two legs were joined at Promontory Summit in Utah.—
Dan Walters,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
27 May 2026
-
Punchup acquired ticketing platform Tixologi to underpin its live commerce capabilities, and the podcast product sits on top of that foundation as the content layer connecting subscription audiences to live revenue.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
27 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Identifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identifying. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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