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
While in high school, Ham contemplated becoming a priest and would spend a weekend each month at a nearby seminary to discern his faith.
—
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Commercially, deft handling by discerning arthouse distributors will be required to draw audiences to a knotty, novelistic work that is, in the most rewarding possible way, difficult to package or summarize.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
Yet amid all the business fanfare, the outlines of an emerging Trump foreign policy could be discerned.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2025
And make no mistake: staying relevant for a quarter-century among the world’s most discerning creative community is no small feat.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 17 May 2025
Commercially, deft handling by discerning arthouse distributors will be required to draw audiences to a knotty, novelistic work that is, in the most rewarding possible way, difficult to package or summarize.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 14 May 2025
Yet amid all the business fanfare, the outlines of an emerging Trump foreign policy could be discerned.
—Howard Lafranchi, Christian Science Monitor, 15 May 2025
And make no mistake: staying relevant for a quarter-century among the world’s most discerning creative community is no small feat.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes.com, 15 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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Other journalists noticed a drop-off in performance for the convertibles, and probably more so than the mild weight gains of just about 100 lbs (45 kg) might suggest.—
Michael Teo Van Runkle,
ArsTechnica,
30 May 2025
-
Karen Walsh began to notice a change in her husband back in 2017.—
Jon Hamilton,
NPR,
30 May 2025
Verb
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Some teenagers are considering professional certifications and skill-building courses to differentiate themselves and build their resumes.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
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These efforts are still early, but AI companies are also trying to differentiate themselves from rivals such as Amazon and Google that also have chatbots and AI shopping features.—
Queenie Wong,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Verb
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For a long time, a very evolved, smart person that makes poor choices sometimes can still understand what that means.—
Daniel D'Addario,
Variety,
30 May 2025
-
Both Wong and Barratt understand the assignments here.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2025
Verb
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The seashore added that those who see wildlife in need of help can call its hotline at (252) 216-6892.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
22 May 2025
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Some people may notice improvements in six to eight weeks, but others may not see any changes until 12 weeks.—
Julia Ries,
Health,
22 May 2025
Verb
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In his book The Spirit Molecule, about the first modern study that administered DMT to humans, the psychiatrist Rick Strassman uses a TV metaphor to distinguish the drug’s effects from those of other psychoactive substances.—
Andy Greenberg,
Wired News,
22 May 2025
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With the right intelligence, firms can distinguish fraudsters from legitimate customers and still deliver great digital journeys.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2025
Verb
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Everyone knows the dangers that’s on [the East River], that current.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
31 May 2025
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Forget iOS 19: Apple To Launch iPhone 17 With Radically Different Software, Report Says Software in the iPhone knows your location and is able to spot the satellites passing overhead to guide you where to point.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2025
Verb
-
They usually are spotted alone or in groups of two or three and use side-lunging as a way of feeding on schools of fish, the NOAA said.—
Paloma Chavez,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2025
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With a portfolio that has included Apple, Google, WhatsApp, and Stripe, Sequoia’s longstanding dominance on the list is an indicator of the firm’s ability to spot visionary founders and back them through all stages of growth.—
TrueBridge Capital,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Verb
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As Guidry and Bowen try to decipher what led to Adam’s murder, viewers are taken on a ride.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
29 May 2025
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As advocates on both sides of the police accountability debate decipher what Trump's about-face means for those communities, some are now focusing on what his administration might do next as allies seek to redefine the summer of 2020.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
27 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discern.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discern. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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