as in distinctiveness
the quality or state of being different
from an early age he could sense that there was an otherness about him—he was somehow different from the other kids
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Recent Examples of otherness
Here, centering otherness is about intentionally dissolving the idea of the imaginary center, which can no longer hold.
—
Sara Raza, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
For some, holiness has an otherness quality set apart from all (or most) of humanity.
—Walt Shelton, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Aug. 2024
Given how crucial football is to Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030 strategy’, moving there would jeopardise his sense of ‘otherness’ and become an extension of the state’s machinery.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
The music itched with palpable otherness, from the experience of a Black art-school kid hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and recklessly lumbered with the intention of redefining Black male cool.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for otherness
Sara Raza, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2024
For some, holiness has an otherness quality set apart from all (or most) of humanity.
—Walt Shelton, Austin American-Statesman, 14 Aug. 2024
Given how crucial football is to Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030 strategy’, moving there would jeopardise his sense of ‘otherness’ and become an extension of the state’s machinery.
—Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Aug. 2024
The music itched with palpable otherness, from the experience of a Black art-school kid hailing from Stone Mountain, Georgia, and recklessly lumbered with the intention of redefining Black male cool.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 24 July 2024
See All Example Sentences for otherness
Recent Examples of Synonyms for otherness
Noun
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In 2012, for example, 49% of Americans responding to the General Social Survey, a long-standing national survey that measures societal change, said Black-white differences in income, housing and jobs were due to a lack of willpower on the part of Black people.—
Karyn Vilbig,
The Conversation,
27 Feb. 2025
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If learning the difference in roles that wielding a switch axe has in contrast to a hammer doesn’t sound complex enough there are elemental weaknesses and resistances to keep in mind around each monster.—
Diego Argüello,
Rolling Stone,
27 Feb. 2025
Noun
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The case comes two years after the Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions programs in higher education and amid the Trump administration’s fierce efforts to root out programs that promote diversity.—
Adam Liptak,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2025
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The company’s chief diversity officer Lindsay-Rae McIntyre put forward the business case for supporting diversity and inclusion practices in a Dec. 20 LinkedIn post.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
TIME,
26 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Five years ago, Robert Wallach (Bobby) had an idea that seemed radical: to revolutionize the gig economy by eliminating the distinction between employees and independent contractors.—
Kody Boye,
USA TODAY,
25 Feb. 2025
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Palmer has embraced the distinction, leveraging her position to create opportunities for other women.—
Julia Boorstin,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In contrast, Hawaii is the most expensive place to spend your retirement, GoBankingRates said.—
Kendrick Marshall,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Mar. 2025
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In contrast, data from the University of California, Berkeley, shows that in the U.S., life expectancy during the same year was significantly higher—65 years for men and 71 years for women.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Otherness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/otherness. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.
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