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
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Children begin identifying what works best for them.
—Reem Raouda, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Collectively, these offices have saved taxpayers millions of dollars by identifying improper spending, correcting internal controls and preventing future losses.
—Vaughn Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
The others, authorities said, were created fraudulently using the names and identifying information of other trucking or transportation companies without their knowledge.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
But the key is identifying the intensity of the scratch from light to moderate or deep.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Chicago police are asking for the public's help with identifying a teenage boy accused of shooting an innocent bystander in the Loop earlier this month.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
But removing the enabling without identifying a goal is just going to cause conflict.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Sarah notes the rare presence of a man, a journalist, who will listen but not disclose names or identifying details of the attendees.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 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
However, identifying the problem was only the first step.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 8 Mar. 2026
Children begin identifying what works best for them.
—Reem Raouda, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2026
Collectively, these offices have saved taxpayers millions of dollars by identifying improper spending, correcting internal controls and preventing future losses.
—Vaughn Stewart, Baltimore Sun, 7 Mar. 2026
The others, authorities said, were created fraudulently using the names and identifying information of other trucking or transportation companies without their knowledge.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
But the key is identifying the intensity of the scratch from light to moderate or deep.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026
Chicago police are asking for the public's help with identifying a teenage boy accused of shooting an innocent bystander in the Loop earlier this month.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026
But removing the enabling without identifying a goal is just going to cause conflict.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 1 Mar. 2026
Sarah notes the rare presence of a man, a journalist, who will listen but not disclose names or identifying details of the attendees.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identifying
Verb
-
But other bolt-holes stand out for giving the beds themselves extra attention, distinguishing them in some particularly charming or even surreal way (see beds carved out of literal ice).—
Kathryn Romeyn,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Every building has distinguishing characteristics.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But for the most part, your brain gets used to it despite associating the aesthetic with chaos and momentum.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
17 Feb. 2026
-
This rhetoric is employed to justify the state taking life, by associating the dead with national villainy.—
Ta-Nehisi Coates,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But Israelis have managed to endure even the latest unpleasantness with characteristic resilience.—
Michael M. Rosen,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Mar. 2026
-
There are some of the director’s characteristic flourishes along the way, and the tone is set early; thumping Kasabian track ‘Days Are Forgotten’ plays in the opening credits, leading into a prison-yard fight moments into the first episode.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But pinpointing an exact drug used in an instance of date rape is seldom straightforward.—
Vivian Salama,
The Atlantic,
9 Mar. 2026
-
One big differentiator is that unlike Apple’s AirTags, the Xiaomi Tag lacks ultra wideband (UWB) functionality for pinpointing its exact location.—
Andrew Liszewski,
The Verge,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
By correlating this economic power with global viewership trends, NNAF will validate the thesis that African content is not just culturally significant, but a commercially viable sector ready for institutional scale.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
4 Feb. 2026
-
These digital twins operate as autonomous agents capable of validating issues, correlating signals, applying fixes and escalating to humans only when needed, compressing resolution times while improving service quality.—
Peter High,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Kahane founded True North following his exit from Lionsgate to develop, finance, and produce distinctive features in partnership with leading and emerging filmmakers.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The stunning ship, recognisable from its distinctive red funnels, is a complete destination for Disney fans.—
Helen Wright,
TheWeek,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Throughout the fourth quarter, the Spartans (32-7) kept finding open players with near-perfect execution on offense.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Mar. 2026
-
Back home, the men had experienced difficulties finding farming jobs—or any jobs at all.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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All new data centers connecting to the grid must now provide dispatchable power — electricity that can be turned on or off depending on the national grid’s needs — or have the capacity to store energy.—
April Roach,Gaelle Legrand,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
-
My bet is that the most valuable players will own IP that travels across formats, connecting with loyal audiences on any screen.—
Max Cutler,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Identifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identifying. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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