as in distinctiveness
the quality or state of being different
from an early age he could sense that there was an otherness about him—he was somehow different from the other kids
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of otherness
There’s a lot of ways to tackle otherness and discrimination.
—
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
While Monster luxuriated in Gein’s unraveling mind, showcasing his otherness with sequences of Gein dancing with spinning chainsaws and posing in his skin suit, Devil in Disguise is all the more effective for emphasizing Gacy’s ability to go unnoticed.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
The film’s queerness extends beyond Palmer’s portrayal of out lesbian Emerald Haywood; in addition to being a commentary on the way the entertainment industry consumes us, Nope is also about otherness.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Tower of Now acts as a visual lexicon of architectural motifs, inviting viewers to find both familiarity and otherness.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for otherness
Destiny Jackson, Deadline, 10 Jan. 2026
While Monster luxuriated in Gein’s unraveling mind, showcasing his otherness with sequences of Gein dancing with spinning chainsaws and posing in his skin suit, Devil in Disguise is all the more effective for emphasizing Gacy’s ability to go unnoticed.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2025
The film’s queerness extends beyond Palmer’s portrayal of out lesbian Emerald Haywood; in addition to being a commentary on the way the entertainment industry consumes us, Nope is also about otherness.
—Samantha Allen, Them., 7 Oct. 2025
Tower of Now acts as a visual lexicon of architectural motifs, inviting viewers to find both familiarity and otherness.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for otherness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for otherness
Noun
-
Optimal distinctiveness essentially says that people want to belong to a group and to still be unique in some way at the same time.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
18 Mar. 2026
-
This distinctiveness enables theatergoers to engage more fully with a narrative that is centered on living and indulging in the human experience rather than simply acting as passive observers.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
13 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
How can the sense of an absolute union of all matter be reconciled with the endless multiplicity and distinctness of it?—
Christian Wiman,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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However, a few hours with Air Riders reveals the nuance and depth of its gameplay, the distinctness of this flavor of racing game and its sensory, chaotic, and strategic appeal.—
Ryan Gaur,
Rolling Stone,
19 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The legislation was the Senate’s attempt to reconcile the differences between the two bills before sending them back to the House.—
Zach Halaschak,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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One key difference is that airports using private contractors have reported fewer disruptions tied to the shutdown.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
With that notable diversity, Spanish fiction is no longer framed internationally through one prevailing model, whether glossy thrillers, YA drama or the long tail of earlier crossover hits.—
Emiliano de Pablos,
Variety,
24 Mar. 2026
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Her stint in 2025 was promoted as a milestone to correct the franchise’s historic diversity shortfalls, but her romantic journey has been labeled by many members of the Bachelor Nation fan base as a low point.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The new Washington law restricts facial coverings for all federal, state and local law enforcement officers -- a key distinction intended to avoid claims of discrimination against federal officials.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Mar. 2026
-
This distinction is rather simple.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That’s in contrast to an earlier trend from 2019 to 2023, when rates dropped only among white people and rose sharply among Black and Indigenous Americans.—
Kaitlin Coward,
Boston Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
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In contrast, with a GLP-1, people might be more inclined to take them because of their burnished reputation.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Otherness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/otherness. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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