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
Nonetheless, in Lund’s keenly discerning view, the game—its swings and misses, hits and runs, acrobatic catches and awkward miscues—is inseparable from the human element that goes into each of these crucial yet infinitesimal incidents.
—
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 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
The top five international destinations, as discerned from Google Flights searches for departures from US airports from June 1 to Aug. 31, are Curaçao, Osaka, St. Lucia, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 7 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
The top five international destinations, as discerned from Google Flights searches for departures from US airports from June 1 to Aug. 31, are Curaçao, Osaka, St. Lucia, Tokyo, and Rio de Janeiro.
—Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discern
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discern
Verb
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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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Filing electronically is usually the fastest way for taxpayers to receive their refunds, as the system flags common errors that taxpayers may otherwise not notice.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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However, more commercial drug tests cannot differentiate between the cannabinoids, according to WedMD.—
Greta Cross,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Taco Bell differentiated theirs by marinating all-white meat in a zesty jalapeño buttermilk flavor and then coating it in tortilla chips and breadcrumbs.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Some means to understand things that are uncontrollable.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
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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Now in their early to mid-30s, both authors have seen their stories grow into global phenomena, with millions of readers and successful film adaptations.—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Considering the sheer number of restaurants that have opened in the past year, the Miami area could easily see another spot get a star.—
Connie Ogle,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Israeli strikes across Gaza continued, killing at least 21 people in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants but says most of the more than 50,000 Palestinians killed in the war have been women and children.—
Sam Mednick and Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Apr. 2025
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At least 26 people have been killed and more than 100 others wounded in the last 24 hours, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 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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Notably, one is the worker who spotted the tendrils in the pipes but didn’t have the opportunity to share that update with anyone.—
Sara Netzley,
EW.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Meanwhile, Abby went out to take watch and spotted two people on horseback, later revealed to be Joel and Dina, who had gone out early on patrol together.—
Alli Rosenbloom,
CNN Money,
21 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 2025.
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