1
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to characterize
to be an important feature of
a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to identify
to find out or establish the identity of
learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to classify
to arrange or assign according to type
on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 distinguish
What distinguishes valuable insight is not its novelty of origin, but its clarity, coherence and relevance.
—
Chris Reed, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
The three-button closure at the front also adds a unique retro touch that distinguishes it from your average pair of denim.
—Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 28 July 2025
But the thing that distinguishes Dollywood is its odes to Dolly Parton.
—Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 28 July 2025
The returning echoes are instantly analyzed by onboard AI to distinguish between debris, rocks, and soft tissue which would likely indicate a human body.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Chris Reed, Oc Register, 30 July 2025
The three-button closure at the front also adds a unique retro touch that distinguishes it from your average pair of denim.
—Bianca Kratky, Glamour, 28 July 2025
But the thing that distinguishes Dollywood is its odes to Dolly Parton.
—Keith Sharon, The Tennessean, 28 July 2025
The returning echoes are instantly analyzed by onboard AI to distinguish between debris, rocks, and soft tissue which would likely indicate a human body.
—Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for distinguish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinguish
Verb
-
There, Burns expertly broke down the physical and personality characteristics that differentiate the four animals.—
Grace Tucker,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
-
That’s what differentiates Tesla from other carmakers: its fans are well known for volunteering their own time, famously helping in earlier years with the end-of-quarter push to deliver cars to new owners.—
Christiaan Hetzner,
Fortune,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
But despite still amassing wins and accolades, Ledecky – whose early career was characterized by outrageously fast times – hadn’t bagged a world record in seven years.—
Amy Woodyatt,
CNN Money,
25 July 2025
-
And all these studies are based on self-reporting by individuals, and family members may characterize their roles differently.—
Howard Gleckman,
Forbes.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will identify the 26-year-old victim.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 Aug. 2025
-
The Tarrant County Medical Examiner’s Office will identify the victim who died.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In Sunday’s victory against the Blue Jays, the Tigers noticed something off with Meadows both on the field and in the bases.—
Cody Stavenhagen,
New York Times,
29 July 2025
-
Trends researchers noticed included the popularity of banh mi and an interest in vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options.—
Fielding Buck,
Oc Register,
29 July 2025
Verb
-
The company classified the fix and vulnerability as Priority 1 and Severity 1, a clear indication that the company recognized the potentially dire consequences had the vulnerability been exploited maliciously in the wild.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
30 July 2025
-
More than 71% of the students are emergent bilingual and 17% are classified as immigrants, according to TEA data.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Verb
-
On the other sit the readers, especially discerning Gen Z audiences who crave analogue textures, real bodies and the subtle flaws that signal human artistry.—
Moin Roberts-Islam,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
-
And that could provide plenty of opportunities for discerning investors.—
Alicia Adamczyk,
Fortune,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
Search crews found Phillips’ Jeep crushed into the mud, but have not recovered the fire chief’s body after more than two weeks of searching.—
Bayliss Wagner,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
As Cincinnati city leaders consider new ways to enforce the curfew for youth who stay out too late, an Enquirer review of data found police across Hamilton County have been steadily filing fewer curfew violations over the past 25 years.—
David Ferrara,
The Enquirer,
25 July 2025
Verb
-
Suspect is Michael Paul Brown and was last seen in the Stumptown area.—
Jenna Sundel
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
Laporta is hoping to build on a domestic double-winning season last term and is excited to see some of the new additions to the squad, including English forward Marcus Rashford.—
Amanda Davies,
CNN Money,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Distinguish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinguish. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share