1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in accolade
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
Synonyms & Similar Words
6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
That is a critical distinction, and one that is already being fought over fiercely in the legal realm.
—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Beyond winning the Dodgers a second championship in three seasons, that game carries another distinction.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Far bigger an issue than Netflix’s habitual gaming of the system has been the degree to which streaming movies have for all practical purposes obliterated the distinction between television and film.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Mark Updegrove said a distinction is social media amplifying extreme views.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
Beyond winning the Dodgers a second championship in three seasons, that game carries another distinction.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 12 Sep. 2025
Far bigger an issue than Netflix’s habitual gaming of the system has been the degree to which streaming movies have for all practical purposes obliterated the distinction between television and film.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 12 Sep. 2025
Mark Updegrove said a distinction is social media amplifying extreme views.
—Doc Louallen, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
-
In 1996, The Webby Awards were launched to honor excellence on the internet at a time when the web itself was still a novelty.—
Ian Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Royals catcher Carter Jensen headlined the list of organizational award-winners who demonstrated excellence on and off the field.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
At stake is the Supporters’ Shield for the league’s best overall record, home-field advantage in the playoffs and a berth in the 2026 CONCACAF Champions Cup.—
Mark Zeigler,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
20 Sep. 2025
-
All right, maybe not everything, but investors have been blessed with an abundance of advantages and good fundamental fortune, along with the policy help the market both hoped for and expected.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
During its run, This Is Us was nominated 39 times at the Emmy Awards, winning four accolades overall.—
Nicholas Rice,
PEOPLE,
20 Sep. 2025
-
That’s just the latest accolade for the Yorba Linda municipal course that continually scores above its weight in a high-toned category.—
Greg Mellen,
Oc Register,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
English has became the de facto language of governance, law, and commerce through usage and cultural dominance, not through a mandate.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Meta has previously butted heads with Apple over policies related to the iPhone maker’s App Store, and Zuckerberg has previously criticized the iPhone maker’s App Store dominance.—
Lisa Eadicicco,
CNN Money,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The award shows look over many who should be honored.—
Jeremy Hanna,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The Grammys took note of Cardi B’s rising star as she was nominated for five awards, including album and record of the year.—
Ross Raihala,
Twin Cities,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The only difference is that reflective tint in most states is not allowed anywhere on the windshield and can't be more than 35% on the front and rear windows.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
20 Sep. 2025
-
However, there's a significant difference between containing and controlling a wildfire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Despite the tension in the exchange, aviation authorities confirmed that proper separation was maintained throughout the incident.—
Heather Hunter,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Sep. 2025
-
That means automatic change logs for every catalog update, dual approvals for pricing tweaks and clear separation of duties for discount policies.—
Ranganath Taware,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
Sara Novak,
Discover Magazine,
12 Nov. 2024
-
Zurich said the Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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