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
Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
The Romero Group was organized by Williams in 2017 and had a social media page identifying the company as a construction firm offering commercial and residential development and construction.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
As for identifying the dead, that too will have to wait, probably for years.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Crown Point Police opened the investigation March 2 after Tazewell County, Illinois Sheriff’s Detective Mitchell Filarski called them in February for help with identifying the victim.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Ideas flowed more freely, teams spotted and solved problems earlier, and employees took pride in identifying and implementing improvements.
—Vicente Reynal, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
The office redacted names and identifying information of the individuals who filed the complaints.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Spring weather on the Front Range can be invigorating, but for Paton and Payton, April beauty is identifying a mid-round pick who becomes an impact player.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
How are businesses identifying what is strengthening or fracturing among consumers, and what are early insights indicating about future growth?
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 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
The study concluded with some recommendations, such as sustaining and expanding programs that work, engaging with with people who have experienced homelessness, identifying funding and supporting neighborhood safety and cleanliness.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2026
The Romero Group was organized by Williams in 2017 and had a social media page identifying the company as a construction firm offering commercial and residential development and construction.
—Nick Lentz, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
As for identifying the dead, that too will have to wait, probably for years.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
Crown Point Police opened the investigation March 2 after Tazewell County, Illinois Sheriff’s Detective Mitchell Filarski called them in February for help with identifying the victim.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Ideas flowed more freely, teams spotted and solved problems earlier, and employees took pride in identifying and implementing improvements.
—Vicente Reynal, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026
The office redacted names and identifying information of the individuals who filed the complaints.
—Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 11 Apr. 2026
Spring weather on the Front Range can be invigorating, but for Paton and Payton, April beauty is identifying a mid-round pick who becomes an impact player.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
How are businesses identifying what is strengthening or fracturing among consumers, and what are early insights indicating about future growth?
—Semafor Events, semafor.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for identifying
Verb
-
Experts emphasize the importance of distinguishing between a true buffalo hump and other conditions.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
For example, they might be classified by the number of rulers, thus distinguishing government by one (as in a monarchy or a tyranny) from government by the few (in an aristocracy or oligarchy) and from government by the many (as in a democracy).—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hershey Foods, viewing Hersheypark as new and untested, did not want to risk visitors associating its brands with what could be a failing theme park.—
John Haddad,
The Conversation,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Her other daughter, Beatrice, is reportedly also choosing to focus on her family and would like to keep away from publicly associating with her parents.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
With nonconformist narration and characteristic whimsy, her work offers us a space to wonder and reflect in a fraught time.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Wu said that most patients with Lyme disease often display the characteristic bullseye rash, but not all who are infected will develop it.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her ability to purify and characterize myelin basic protein was really sort of pinpointing one of the first myelin proteins that came to the attention of neuroscientists.—
Marcy Thompson,
Scientific American,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Headboards carved with topographical maps pinpointing the summit of Denali and whimsical art by local muralist Ted Kim give the 252 rooms a distinctly Alaskan feel.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 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
-
Investigators first identified Heuermann as a suspect in 2022 through his Chevrolet Avalanche, a distinctive pickup truck purchased on Long Island.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The park features the distinctive Guggenheim Bandshell, and used to host New York Fashion Week in the spring and fall.—
Leigh Anne Miller,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The whole thing was a sign that the college is still finding its footing.—
Emma Green,
New Yorker,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Throughout the renovation, approximately 90% of furniture, mattresses, lighting and artwork from previous guestrooms were resold and diverted from landfills, finding new homes across the United States.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Artnet built its business on pricing data, auctions, and market reporting, while Artsy focused on discovery and online sales, connecting collectors with galleries, fairs, and institutions.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Of the shifting comedy landscape, Chappelle pointed to Druski as one of the comedians connecting with audiences.—
Angela Andaloro,
PEOPLE,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Identifying.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/identifying. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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