dissimilarity
noun
dis·sim·i·lar·i·ty
(ˌ)di(s)-ˌsi-mə-ˈler-ə-tē 
plural dissimilarities
: the quality or state of being dissimilar : difference in appearance or nature
… the principal dissimilarity may be that California sits on the unstable edge of a massive plate of rock, while the edge nearest New York lies in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.—
D. D. Edwards
D. D. Edwards… a recurrent trope in Hanks's stories is stressing the dissimilarity of life to cinema: lovers worry that they have become "like characters in a movie"; siblings close in age refuse to dress "like twins in some movie".—Mark Lawson
Mark LawsonWhatever their dissimilarities, neither Stalin nor Khrushchev nor Brezhnev wanted a war with the United States.—John Lewis Gaddis
John Lewis GaddisThe exhibition looks past any superficial dissimilarities between the two and instead focus on what makes each a great photographer: the willingness to follow the story and get the right shot.—The Huffington Post
The Huffington PostExamples of dissimilarity in a Sentence
the effectiveness of a metaphor largely depends upon the superficial dissimilarity of the two things being compared
Recent Examples on the Web
In fact, the German scholar Winfried Fluck, in a study of the Americanization of global culture, credited Americans’ dissimilarities with the dominance of its popular culture.
—Lily Rothman, Time, 23 Apr. 2026
Their results support the hypothesis that limiting trait similarity allows the establishment of non-native parakeets at the local scale by reducing competition with native species due to trait dissimilarity.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Each chapter is a head-spinning exercise in dissimilarity.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Obviously, the dissimilarity between being directed by her and being technically a co-star of her is kind of getting to engage with her brilliance on multifacets.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
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Lily Rothman, Time, 23 Apr. 2026
Their results support the hypothesis that limiting trait similarity allows the establishment of non-native parakeets at the local scale by reducing competition with native species due to trait dissimilarity.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Each chapter is a head-spinning exercise in dissimilarity.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 Apr. 2026
Obviously, the dissimilarity between being directed by her and being technically a co-star of her is kind of getting to engage with her brilliance on multifacets.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for dissimilarity
Cite this Entry
“Dissimilarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dissimilarity. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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