distinguished
adjective
dis·tin·guished
di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wisht 
1
: marked by eminence, distinction (see distinction sense 4), or excellence
distinguished leadership
our distinguished guest
2
: befitting an eminent person
a distinguished setting
Examples of distinguished in a Sentence
She is distinguished for her achievements in genetic research.
heads turned as the well-dressed, distinguished couple strode through the hotel lobby
Recent Examples on the Web
OpenAI enlisted WilmerHale, the distinguished law firm responsible for the internal investigations of Enron and WorldCom, to conduct the review.
—
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Saudi Arabia is using its East-West pipeline, which stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, to transfer about 5 million barrels per day out of the Gulf, said Michael Lynch, distinguished fellow at Energy Policy Research Foundation, a non-partisan institution focused on energy and economics.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Curtis Bradley, a distinguished service professor of law at the University of Chicago, told TIME that there is, at least, some precedent, citing President Jimmy Carter's withdrawal from a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in 1978, which was formalized in 1980.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
Beyond college, Hill enjoyed a distinguished 18‑season NBA career, was a seven‑time All‑Star, a 1995 Co‑Rookie of the Year, and earned a 1996 Olympic gold medal with Team USA, all of which eventually earned him a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinguished
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Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Saudi Arabia is using its East-West pipeline, which stretches from the Persian Gulf to the Red Sea, to transfer about 5 million barrels per day out of the Gulf, said Michael Lynch, distinguished fellow at Energy Policy Research Foundation, a non-partisan institution focused on energy and economics.
—Cathy Bussewitz, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
Advertisement Curtis Bradley, a distinguished service professor of law at the University of Chicago, told TIME that there is, at least, some precedent, citing President Jimmy Carter's withdrawal from a mutual defense treaty with Taiwan in 1978, which was formalized in 1980.
—Tiago Ventura, Time, 1 Apr. 2026
Beyond college, Hill enjoyed a distinguished 18‑season NBA career, was a seven‑time All‑Star, a 1995 Co‑Rookie of the Year, and earned a 1996 Olympic gold medal with Team USA, all of which eventually earned him a spot in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.
—Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinguished
Cite this Entry
“Distinguished.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distinguished. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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