different

adjective

ˈdi-f(ə-)rənt How to pronounce different (audio)
Definition of differentnext
1
as in diverse
being not of the same kind how are plantains different from bananas?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in separate
not the same or shared my brother and I sleep in different rooms when we travel

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
  1. diverse
  2. separate
  3. distinctive
  4. respective
  5. distinct
  6. various
  7. other
  8. varied
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
Definition of diverse
Adjective
  • The gym murder case in the episode is very much separate from everything else going on with Olympia and Matty’s story.
    — Jim Halterman, Variety, 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
Definition of separate
Adjective
  • Follow her on LinkedIn Dr. Yasmine Saad, Founder and Director of Psychological Services Dr. Yasmine Saad is advancing psychological care with her distinctive Inner Message Approach®, which treats emotions as meaningful signals rather than problems to eliminate.
    — Lauren Carpenter, USA Today, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Alongside his wife, Doris, Krause spent more than three decades sourcing rare and distinctive set dressing from around the world, curating a collection that remains integral to film and television productions today.
    — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of distinctive
Adjective
  • And on Wednesday, the Mets and Rangers provided opportunities to see their respective offerings in a span of about six hours.
    — Larry Fleisher, Forbes.com, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Both men were fierce warriors, deeply committed to their respective causes.
    — Made by History, Time, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of respective
Adjective
  • The title drop, when a line of dialogue references the film’s title, is a delicate art with a distinct cult following.
    — Donald Liebenson, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025
  • The Justice Department is considering a plan to merge the ATF and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), both of which often collaborate but have distinct missions.
    — Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Apr. 2025
Definition of distinct
Adjective
  • To the contrary, various federal courts have held that Title IX and/or the Equal Protection Clause require schools to allow such participation.
    — Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 11 Apr. 2025
  • Tan began his career in 1999 at Louis Vuitton in retail and merchandising, later joining Burberry, holding various regional roles in retail operations and merchandising.
    — Miles Socha, Footwear News, 11 Apr. 2025
Definition of various
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
Definition of other
Adjective
  • After three or four sessions, your character has much more move variety, and items and weapons are more useful and varied.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 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
Definition of varied

Browse Nearby Words

differencing
different
differentia
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Cite this Entry

“Different.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/different. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

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