1
as in to notice
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to differentiate
to understand or point out the difference in
too young to discern between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of
we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discern
White frogs are used most often to match the tone of saltwater forage species like squid and baitfish, but dolphin aren’t very discerning anyway.
—
Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025
Leaders must guide teams to be discerning in their use of tools to maximize productivity.
—Syed Ali, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
In the words of then New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni, Bar Boulud is a terrine machine, a pâté-a-palooza, dedicated to the proposition that discerning New Yorkers aren’t getting nearly enough concentrated, sculptured, gelatinous animal fat, at least not of a superior caliber.
—Sylvie Bigar, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
For discerning travelers seeking an elevated ocean experience, Explora Journeys redefines luxury travel at sea with a seamless blend of elegance, discovery, and immersive exploration.
—Explora Journeys, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2025
Leaders must guide teams to be discerning in their use of tools to maximize productivity.
—Syed Ali, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
In the words of then New York Times restaurant critic Frank Bruni, Bar Boulud is a terrine machine, a pâté-a-palooza, dedicated to the proposition that discerning New Yorkers aren’t getting nearly enough concentrated, sculptured, gelatinous animal fat, at least not of a superior caliber.
—Sylvie Bigar, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
For discerning travelers seeking an elevated ocean experience, Explora Journeys redefines luxury travel at sea with a seamless blend of elegance, discovery, and immersive exploration.
—Explora Journeys, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
-
According to the Miami Herald, a separate guest stayed in the room with Tillman's dead body in the closet, but didn't notice it.—
Adam Sabes,
FOXNews.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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Correa noticed López motioning toward his leg during a walk of Jonathan India and immediately went to the mound for a visit.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Managers shouldn't need to differentiate their employees’ performance on a 3% budget.—
Dr. Lisa Toppin,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
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Part of the reason for its accuracy – which should improve as the device is developed further – lies in its ability to differentiate between heart movements and other movements.—
Ben Coxworth,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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IndieWire understands the festival was waiting to confirm Denzel Washington’s attendance, and indeed the star will be at Cannes.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
10 Apr. 2025
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And like Bell, my bandmates and I understood why other artists were continuing to cancel their performances.—
Ryan Miller,
The Atlantic,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Comments James Cameron has unveiled the first official footage from Avatar: Fire and Ash, though the general public may have to wait a little longer to see it.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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There's nothing like seeing your best friend — especially after nine months stranded in outer space!—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Senior midfielder Chelsea Fuentes, a captain like Lopez, said her teammate’s desire for excellence distinguishes every part of her game.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Apr. 2025
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This capability distinguishes good hires from great ones in an environment where knowledge is readily available.—
Bing Yu Yap,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Snow is best known for being part of the ensemble cast in Universal’s Pitch Perfect and its two sequels.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
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It was best known as the home to a long list of A-list stars, filmmakers and Hollywood insiders.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This is not the first time Bloom and Perry have been spotted vacationing with Sanchez and Bezos.—
Janelle Ash,
FOXNews.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Though the pair are spotted together later that night, Tommy never arrives home in the morning.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As Saxon and Lochlan try to decipher what happened between them, we are asked to think about why we’re aroused (or repulsed) by it.—
Louis Staples,
Rolling Stone,
24 Mar. 2025
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After analyzing his journal, Cordelia was able to decipher the diligent log Wynter kept of each criminal statute and ethical code that Lilly broke while working her role at the White House, which included stealing money and securing shady contracts.—
Lexy Perez,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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