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
However, that reputation and distinction arrived from his multiple seasons as a star with the Green Bay Packers.
—
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
This downtown Bryan landmark has the distinction of being the first indoor movie theater west of the Mississippi.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
This allows an easy distinction between healthy complex carbs versus unhealthy simple carbs because simple carbs typically are devoid of fiber.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
That reveals another distinction from pro sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Sep. 2025
This downtown Bryan landmark has the distinction of being the first indoor movie theater west of the Mississippi.
—Jill Robbins, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
This allows an easy distinction between healthy complex carbs versus unhealthy simple carbs because simple carbs typically are devoid of fiber.
—Bryant Stamford, Louisville Courier Journal, 4 Sep. 2025
That reveals another distinction from pro sports.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
This operational excellence matters as utilities adapt to increasing electricity demand.—
Anna Broughel,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
From excellence and respectability to rage and raunch to the abstract and avant-garde.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Boomsma said any traits the ants have evolved are adaptations driven by natural selection, and creating fitter hybrid workers provided a competitive advantage, allowing Iberian harvester ants to extend their range vastly.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Sep. 2025
-
The Wave now hold a 6-2-1 advantage in the all-time regular season series.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In 2020, he was awarded with the National Book Award’s Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, and has received other accolades such as a PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award, the Robert Kirsch Award and several Edgar and NAACP Image Awards.—
Carly Tagen-Dye,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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The accolades keep coming for Lilo, the immersive 22-seat fine-dining restaurant that opened in April in Carlsbad.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But despite his global dominance, Armani — who died at age 91 on September 4 — will be honored for the last time in a private funeral ceremony away from the spotlight and near his birthplace.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The dominance of Wilson, Langley and Moroney will be welcomed as a signpost for the many who have championed the underdog role of women in country in recent years.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Gaga took home Artist of the Year at the VMAs, accepting her award at the start of the show before traveling from UBS Arena on Long Island to MSG in Manhattan for her show.—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Similar arrangements were made with the skeleton crew and award-winning department heads.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Your wallet — and your customer service experience — will depend on knowing the difference.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For planes flying 30,000 feet above sea level or military vehicles traveling through combat zones, that level of reliability can mean the difference between life and death.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The move from a monolithic intelligence model to a modular agentic system aligns clearly with principles of separation of concerns, which are foundational in systems and software architecture.—
Gopikrishnan Anilkumar,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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Advertisement Advertisement For workers, these raids meant detention, family separation, and deportation.—
Jenn Tardy,
Time,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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