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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of identifying
Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
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
Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 15 June 2026
The leaders of three of the world’s most influential film festivals told Shanghai on Sunday that the role of the festival circuit in discovering and developing new voices has never been more critical – and that personal connection, not data, remains the truest compass for identifying talent.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 June 2026
The model was particularly effective at identifying software vulnerabilities.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 June 2026
The key to identifying the right white shade for your space is testing.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Your business changes and your interactions change, so a firm must be proactive in identifying the best possible experience today for the customer.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In the past, gubernatorial candidates have always had the first priority on identifying someone ready to lead the state as governor.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Inspired by a true story, this thriller centers around a fast food manager, Sandra (Ann Dowd), who receives a call from a man identifying himself as a police officer claiming to be investigating a potential theft by Becky (Dreama Walker), one of the restaurant’s employees.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
The grass-like foliage that grows 4 to 12 inches tall is the main identifying characteristic.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Adjective
But the implementation of that plan has been slow, and some locals have expressed discomfort with the idea of submitting more identifying information, Nguyen said.
—Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 27 May 2026
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
Chicago police are asking for the public's help in identifying a suspect who stabbed another man during a fight on a CTA Blue Line train earlier this month.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 15 June 2026
The leaders of three of the world’s most influential film festivals told Shanghai on Sunday that the role of the festival circuit in discovering and developing new voices has never been more critical – and that personal connection, not data, remains the truest compass for identifying talent.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 June 2026
The model was particularly effective at identifying software vulnerabilities.
—Richard Hall, Time, 13 June 2026
The key to identifying the right white shade for your space is testing.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2026
Your business changes and your interactions change, so a firm must be proactive in identifying the best possible experience today for the customer.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
In the past, gubernatorial candidates have always had the first priority on identifying someone ready to lead the state as governor.
—Sofia Baltodano, Miami Herald, 12 June 2026
Inspired by a true story, this thriller centers around a fast food manager, Sandra (Ann Dowd), who receives a call from a man identifying himself as a police officer claiming to be investigating a potential theft by Becky (Dreama Walker), one of the restaurant’s employees.
—Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 2026
The grass-like foliage that grows 4 to 12 inches tall is the main identifying characteristic.
—Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identifying
Adjective
-
The gulf between their two worlds is wide, and Jude straddles it with wide-ranging intellect and his characteristic impish wit, while also telling a surprisingly heartfelt story about the lengths to which a mother will go for love.—
Christopher Vourlias,
Variety,
11 June 2026
-
Ecology remained characteristic of her approach, but Carson now broadened her aims to encompass a mobilization of public opinion equal to the task of addressing the widespread harms of chemical pesticides in everyday life and agricultural ecosystems alike.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
This isn’t to say any of these teams would have challenged eventual champion LSU; the point is that distinguishing between teams 10 and 20 for inclusion in a 16-team CFP is virtually impossible.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
The first distinguishing feature is the nature of the problem being attacked.—
Ethan Stone,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Hoffman has apologized for associating with Epstein.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 June 2026
-
According to recent polling by the firm Meganálisis, Rodríguez continues to face deeply negative approval ratings, with many Venezuelans still associating the interim government with corruption, repression and economic collapse linked to the final years of Chavismo.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Christine Vachon and Pamela Koffler play a central role in American independent cinema, championing bold, ambitious and distinctive storytelling.—
Joey Nolfi,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 June 2026
-
Her distinctive voice has been Widowspeak’s emblem since the band first emerged, warbled like Mazzy Star’s Hope Sandoval over CB radio.—
Linnie Greene,
Pitchfork,
10 June 2026
Verb
-
Within seconds, the map on the screen updates in real time, a marker pinpointing the caller’s location.—
Walker Armstrong,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 June 2026
-
Then, an alert came through to Heitzman’s onboard computer from Raven, an artificial intelligence tool used by the Caldwell Police Department for pinpointing the sound of the gunshots.—
Noah Daly
Updated June 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Another study observed children as young as ten months old correlating larger physical statures with dominance.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
-
By correlating vulnerabilities into potential attack paths, teams can prioritize issues that could realistically lead to privilege escalation, lateral movement, or data access—rather than treating all findings equally.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
3 June 2026
Adjective
-
The OneXPlayer 3 is also distinct beyond the display.—
Matthew Buzzi,
PC Magazine,
14 June 2026
-
Nonbank lenders, private credit firms, insurers, and fintechs — all fast-growing users of AI with distinct regulatory environments — get thin coverage.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
An officer saved a missing boy from a near drowning on Friday after finding the youngster partially submerged, disoriented, and in immediate danger near the shoreline, according to the Fort Worth Police Department.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
13 June 2026
-
Alcohol ads take up a portion of social media ad space, with one study finding nearly 40,000 ads placed on Facebook and Instagram over a year in Australia.—
Avni Trivedi,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Identifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identifying. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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