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
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 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
-
Lyme disease, causing a fever, headache, fatigue, and a characteristic skin rash called erythema migrans.—
Sophie Lindberg,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Behind the scenes, Spatial Hearing AI listens to the 3D acoustic environment and maps the soundscape, isolating each source and distinguishing between multiple speakers, so that devices can respond adaptively, guided by the context of their surroundings.—
Scott Kramer,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
-
The original combat variant, which the company is already producing, will now carry the designation CA-1KA (Kinetic Attack), distinguishing it from the new electronic warfare model.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
The challenge is that organizations often begin associating those employees with execution rather than innovation or leadership.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
4 June 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
-
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
-
Rather than pinpointing one moment as the breaking point, senior club sources suggest that faith in Slot slowly ebbed away during those closing weeks.—
James Pearce,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
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
Verb
-
As the oldest critics’ group in the United States, the NYFCC is viewed as an early bellwether for awards season, with its best film winner often correlating with an Academy Award nomination for best picture.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
2 Dec. 2025
-
Since the drugs have come on the market, declines in obesity rates have been higher among those between ages 40 and 64, correlating with a higher reliance on GLP-1 medications for that age group.—
Yuki Noguchi,
NPR,
28 Oct. 2025
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
-
Prescott went in-depth on Thursday about how the film aspect of preparing for blitzes is one of the biggest keys in finding success when it’s thrown at him.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Dec. 2025
-
Because southern Greenland’s caribou are nonmigratory, finding a herd is the second-hardest part of hunting them.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
11 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Identifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identifying. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
