Synonym Chooser

How is the word different different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of different are disparate, divergent, diverse, and various. While all these words mean "unlike in kind or character," different may imply little more than separateness but it may also imply contrast or contrariness.

different foods

When could disparate be used to replace different?

The words disparate and different are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disparate emphasizes incongruity or incompatibility.

disparate notions of freedom

When can divergent be used instead of different?

Although the words divergent and different have much in common, divergent implies movement away from each other and unlikelihood of ultimate meeting or reconciliation.

went on to pursue divergent careers

In what contexts can diverse take the place of different?

In some situations, the words diverse and different are roughly equivalent. However, diverse implies both distinctness and marked contrast.

such diverse interests as dancing and football

Where would various be a reasonable alternative to different?

While in some cases nearly identical to different, various stresses the number of sorts or kinds.

tried various methods

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 different In his next four starts, Taillon has looked like a different pitcher. Sahadev Sharma, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025 There’s plenty of beach to go around in Florida, each with a different appeal. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 21 Apr. 2025 The ability of the government to cross-reference personal information using databases from different agencies is tightly regulated under the US Privacy Act. Dell Cameron, Wired News, 21 Apr. 2025 Some places might have a better view of the alignment on different days. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for different
Recent Examples of Synonyms for different
Adjective
  • The school district is one of the nation’s largest and most ethnically and religiously diverse.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Some of the biggest opportunities for Fort Worth include growth in population, growing the technology industry, expanding tourism, becoming more inclusive and diverse, protecting the environment, and creating job opportunities.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The new project is completely separate from the 2020 attempt to reboot Clueless for Peacock.
    Daniel S. Levine, People.com, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Adams, who was 30 at the time, was living in a converted studio apartment on her parents’ property separate from the main house in Ocala, according to an arrest affidavit filed by the Marion County Sheriff’s Office.
    Olivia Lloyd, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • From its facial expressions to its distinctive chirp, the creature is wreathed in a kind of nostalgia that Eighties kids will remember from those early days trolling the VHS rack at their local Blockbuster.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 26 Apr. 2025
  • They were inspired by treasured calligraphy tools, and each brush features a unique walnut handle with distinctive grain.
    Kiana Murden, Vogue, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Negotiators from the European Union and the U.K. are in talks with U.S. officials to try to alleviate their respective 25% and 10% blanket tariffs, while also grappling with broader tariffs on steel, aluminum and autos.
    Jenni Reid,Sam Meredith, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2025
  • That two of the most recognizable names in UK sport, both Knights of the Realm, both hugely successful in their respective fields, have gone their separate sporting ways has unsurprisingly been of interest to those outside the world of sailing.
    Andrew Rice, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Leaders must align their efforts but never relinquish their distinct accountabilities.
    Shivali Kukreja, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Epic Universe, the $7 billion attraction from Comcast Corp.’s Universal Destinations & Experiences division, offers five distinct lands and opens to the public on May 22.
    Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Speaking to a group of journalists on April 25, the NATO chief repeatedly sidestepped questions about various statements Trump has made about Russia's war against Ukraine.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 26 Apr. 2025
  • He's met with various foreign officials at the White House in recent weeks on tariffs and other economic issues, but has not yet announced any agreements.
    Alexandra Hutzler, ABC News, 25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The trip to Brentford is little more than a lower mid-table meeting, but United’s other three engagements could have more riding on them.
    Mark Critchley, New York Times, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The president and his administration accuse Harvard, among other universities, of allowing antisemitism to flourish on campus, endangering Jewish students.
    Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • While 32 different winds—each with a name—are noted for bringing in varied weather conditions, the most notorious is the Mistral.
    Mike DeSimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Many trustees, however, start their roles without sufficient understanding of higher education’s unique dynamics and the varied needs of its constituents.
    Dr. Aviva Legatt, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/different. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.

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