Definition of secernnext
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
  • Studios are smaller, operations are simpler, and the concept is differentiated enough to cut through the noise.
    William Jones, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Just last week, Carolyn differentiated herself in the Kennedy compound by insisting that her job gave her a sense of purpose.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But other bolt-holes stand out for giving the beds themselves extra attention, distinguishing them in some particularly charming or even surreal way (see beds carved out of literal ice).
    Kathryn Romeyn, Architectural Digest, 9 Mar. 2026
  • In early life, this tissue exposes developing immune cells to intestinal microbes, helping the body learn to distinguish between harmless symbionts and harmful pathogens.
    Lilia Goncharova, The Conversation, 9 Mar. 2026
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 13 Mar. 2026.

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