1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
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Relevance
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2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
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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
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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
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5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
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6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
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7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
Despite its astounding progress and immense promise, AI is now vying for the dubious distinction of being one of the most mistrusted industries.
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Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
For those who follow the film festival circuit, Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival for Parasite seemed like an inevitable and justifiable distinction.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
So on that note, here are our twenty-five picks for the distinction of Best Airbnb: Los Angeles.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
For a generation reared on digital media, distinctions between types of news sources have eroded.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distinction 
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024
For those who follow the film festival circuit, Bong Joon-ho’s 2019 Palme d’Or win at the Cannes Film Festival for Parasite seemed like an inevitable and justifiable distinction.
—Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 28 Oct. 2024
So on that note, here are our twenty-five picks for the distinction of Best Airbnb: Los Angeles.
—Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2024
For a generation reared on digital media, distinctions between types of news sources have eroded.
—Simon Montlake, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
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The nation also won both U17 and U20 world titles in 2016 demonstrating a concerted excellence in women's soccer at youth level.Asif Burhan, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
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The celebrity and business leader list reads like a who’s who of Black excellence in the U.S.: Tyler Perry, Brian Tyree Henry, Don Cheadle, Spike Lee, John Legend, Jermaine Dupri, Bakari Sellers and so on (and on…).Kevin Dolak, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Nov. 2024
Noun
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If González’s advantage over Dalmau prevails, the pro-statehood New Progressive Party would make history as the first in Puerto Rico to secure a third consecutive term.Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
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Voter frustrations with the economy and immigration are fueling Trump’s slight advantage among Arizona voters.Stephanie Murray, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The following year, as part of Robb Report’s Best of the Best accolades, it was named 2013 Best Specialty Vehicles: Sports Car.Howard Walker, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2024
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Yet, in addition to all of her on-court accolades as a standout college player at UConn and in the WNBA, Taurasi has been a trailblazer in other areas outside of sports.Andy Frye, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The dominance of automobiles and the infrastructure that supports them over many decades only seems inevitable in hindsight.Nir Eisikovits, Discover Magazine, 14 Nov. 2024
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According to both Ives and Musk, that’s likely positive for Tesla, given its dominance in the market.William Gavin, Quartz, 13 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Simply by virtue of being an HBO drama with good viewership numbers, The Penguin is at least going to be in the awards conversation.Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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For achieving such a broad impact on the computing world, the 2024 Apple Mac mini with M4 Pro earns a hearty Editors’ Choice award for small-form-factor desktops.PCMAG, PCMAG, 7 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The difference between CVs and résumés The most obvious difference between CVs and résumés is length.Amy Lindgren, Twin Cities, 16 Nov. 2024
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The difference is largely due to changes in derivative liabilities, gain on sale of mine property, and gain on extinguishment of debt.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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The company identified material weaknesses in its internal controls over financial reporting due to a lack of separation of duties and is actively engaged in remediation efforts.Quartz Bot, Quartz, 7 Nov. 2024
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Critics, however, see it as a violation of the Massachusetts Constitution's separation of powers.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
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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
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Paradise Dynasty, Kang Kang, Long Xing Ji, Hui Tou Xiang, Min Min Pie House (and so many more) should all be household names worthy of recognition for their myriad styles and excellency.Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 2 Jan. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near distinction
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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