as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secern
Verb
  • The shoe differentiates itself with a half d’Orsay design that reveals the side of the foot and a curvaceous outline that adds subtle undulation to the silhouette; a stitched band is also featured across the toe.
    Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Other than a window exposing the rear suspension, Ford did barely anything to differentiate the cockpit.
    Tim Stevens, Robb Report, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Here the AfDB could play the role of truth-teller, helping its members distinguish between credible, fit-for-purpose nuclear ambitions and fantasy.
    W. Gyude Moore, semafor.com, 27 Oct. 2025
  • Imax has benefited in recent years as audiences opt for premium large formats to distinguish the out-of-the-home moviegoing experience.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Secern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secern. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

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