Definition of secernnext
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for secern
Verb
  • As cannabis brands look for ways to differentiate products beyond potency, cannabinoids associated with specific functional benefits, such as sleep, focus and metabolic health, are moving into the spotlight.
    Thomas Andersen, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
  • In an email to the sponsor group, officials noted that their tax reports do not differentiate between hotels and short-term rentals.
    Hannah Elsmore, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Published in 2021 by a team of scholars in such fields as Jewish studies and Holocaust history, it was created to help distinguish hatred of Jews from criticism of Israel.
    Eyal Press, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2026
  • Cook also said Idaho State Police does not have a test that is able to distinguish between synthetic and natural-leaf kratom.
    Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 30 Mar. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Secern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/secern. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.

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