1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accolade
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
The practical lesson for policymakers is to keep two distinctions in mind.
—
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
With respect, that is a distinction without a difference.
—Chai Posner, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
This distinction between structured scientific collection and Kennedy’s ad hoc acquisition is central to a bioethical analysis of his collecting behavior.
—Sam Zeveloff, STAT, 9 May 2026
For most of his life, Mojtaba was not regarded as a religious scholar of significant theological authority or scholarly distinction.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
James Broughel, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
With respect, that is a distinction without a difference.
—Chai Posner, Baltimore Sun, 9 May 2026
This distinction between structured scientific collection and Kennedy’s ad hoc acquisition is central to a bioethical analysis of his collecting behavior.
—Sam Zeveloff, STAT, 9 May 2026
For most of his life, Mojtaba was not regarded as a religious scholar of significant theological authority or scholarly distinction.
—Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
The staff also earned an excellence in video award.—
Los Angeles Times Staff,
Los Angeles Times,
10 May 2026
-
Under Bobby Cox, the Braves would fashion the longest run of regular-season excellence in the history of baseball, winning 14 consecutive division championships with all manner of players and teams but with one formidable constant — the manager.—
Mark Bradley for the AJC,
AJC.com,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Turn back the tape just a few weeks ago, to when the Five Stripes relinquished a 1-0 advantage in the final stretch to lose at home 2-1.—
Amna Subhan,
AJC.com,
10 May 2026
-
Blackwood made the initial stop, but Faber was there at the edge of the crease and the puck went off the Minnesota defenseman’s body and into the net to restore the three-goal advantage.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
This accolade further emphasizes the booming super premium Irish whiskey sector, as The Donn surpassed renowned Scottish and Japanese competitors.—
Brad Japhe,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The accolade has become one of the Pavilion’s defining institutional recognitions for filmmakers and artists working within the global genre landscape, organizers note.—
Ed Meza,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Noun
-
Traits once seen as stabilizing — empathy, humility, shame — are recast as liabilities in a world that prizes speed, dominance and certainty.—
Sarah DaVanzo,
Rolling Stone,
11 May 2026
-
Just steer away from turning every disagreement into a battle for dominance.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
An agriculture teacher at Harmony Middle School in Osceola County was named one of five finalists for Florida’s Teacher of the Year award, the Florida Department of Education announced Monday.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
The awards were handed out at a ceremony on Sunday, March 10 and bestowed by juries of industry executives, journalists, creators, and experts.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
In practice, though, designing a policy that acts wisely on this difference is all but impossible.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
10 May 2026
-
For Edison, junior Hayden Pham was a difference-maker throughout the match.—
Dan Rios,
Daily News,
10 May 2026
Noun
-
Staubach suffered his own shoulder separation early in the 1972 campaign, and Morton again took the starting role.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
-
Chandana said building the individual components of the rocket, such as the engines, avionics, and separation systems, has been a fairly straightforward process.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
12 Nov. 2024
-
Zurich said the Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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