1
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to characterize
to be an important feature of a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of distinguish Skye herself has almost no distinguishing characteristics besides her fragile state and propensity for terrible decisions, especially as the investigation around her boyfriend’s death kicks into gear. Alison Herman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025 All of this with the romantic signature that distinguishes him. Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025 The pearls, distinguished by their Baroque silhouettes and radiant golden hue, exude an organic allure. Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025 Still, the Ottoman-style architecture and the pale pink of a nearby Orthodox church distinguish ski towns and resorts like Brezovica and Jahorina. Naomi Tomky, AFAR Media, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish
Verb
  • This emerging genre of politician touts an anti-establishment, anti-oligarchy lens which differentiates them from their establishment Democratic peers and opponents.
    Sam Stone, Bon Appetit Magazine, 16 Oct. 2025
  • What differentiates these families is their orientation.
    Sergio Alonso Fernández de Córdova y de Veyga, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Protest organizers have trained thousands in de-escalation techniques and have promised the day will be safe, even as political rhetoric characterizes demonstrators as being aligned with terrorist forces.
    Sarah D. Wire, USA Today, 18 Oct. 2025
  • The White House regularly characterizes undocumented immigrants as drivers of urban lawlessness, even though the data show that is not true.
    Sergio Martínez-Beltrán, NPR, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Using Hubble's data, astronomers have identified more than 80 possible star clusters inside this ring, many less than 100 million years old, though the spiral galaxy itself has likely persisted for over a billion years.
    Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
  • The post did not identify the boy or the friend who was with him.
    Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 20 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Mariah had noticed the young soldier standing alone while everyone else celebrated with loved ones.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
  • Now is not the time for pastors to wilt or keep our heads down, hoping against hope that we won’t be noticed.
    Rev. Nathan Empsall, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Related Stories In a nutsell, the test arranged by the cutter’s union documented that AI tools are great for organizing, classifying and summarizing.
    Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Police and the media classified Gacy’s victims as male prostitutes and homosexuals, using that as an excuse to marginalize and blame them.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Others were harder to discern, like a boy being swept away by a tornado, or homeless men being inserted into people’s homes.
    Andrew R. Chow, Time, 20 Oct. 2025
  • This is accomplished with a more casual ankle-length height, a softly rounded toe and a far more discerning metal buckle detail.
    Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Police found a firearm in the vehicle, the release says.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2025
  • The child was found by her mother three hours later, with internal vehicle temperatures having reached over 108 degrees.
    Jose R. Gonzalez, AZCentral.com, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • He has not been seen in public since March, but the investigation of his activities had not previously been disclosed by Chinese authorities.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2025
  • More than 60% of European companies cite regulation as an obstacle to investment, and most see it as their biggest challenge overall.
    Jan Hammer, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinguish. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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