1
as in excellence
exceptionally high quality
a shop selling native handicrafts of distinction
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Relevance
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2
as in advantage
a quality that gives something special worth
has the distinction of being the oldest house in the city
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3
as in accolade
public acknowledgment or admiration for an achievement
I did all of the work, and the other guy got all the distinction
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4
as in dominance
the fact or state of being above others in rank or importance
a number of physicians of national distinction serve on the staff of the teaching hospital
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5
as in award
something given in recognition of achievement
won a number of distinctions in her long career as an actress
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6
as in difference
the quality or state of being different
the distinction between the two photographic prints escapes me
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7
as in separation
the state of being kept distinct
the distinction between liberty and license is often violated in today's freewheeling society
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of distinction
That's the distinction between Venezuela and other nations.
—
CBS News, 4 Jan. 2026
Daniela Amodei drew a distinction between the technology curve and the economic curve, an important nuance that tends to get conflated in the public debate.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 3 Jan. 2026
The Commodore also holds the distinction of being one of only two ships currently commissioned in the Texas Navy.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 Jan. 2026
In the posts, Kaplan — a vocal critic of Israel’s actions in Gaza — said there is a clear distinction between opposing the policies of the Israeli government and antisemitism.
—Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 2 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for distinction
Recent Examples of Synonyms for distinction
Noun
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Her answer landed like a mic drop at Golden Eve, a new primetime special airing Thursday on CBS that celebrates work defined by excellence and lasting impact.—
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The recognition places Dogwood among a small group of restaurants nationwide singled out for excellence in their first year on the dining scene.—
Noun
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From roster makeup to individual position battles to the coaches looking to exploit any advantage on the field, every bit of film is scrutinized to see which team has the advantage in January.—
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Despite being given three power plays in the first, the B’s were not good at all on the man advantage.—
Noun
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Chalamet has counted a Critics Choice Award, Palm Springs International Film Festival award and a nomination at the upcoming Actor Awards among his accolades for Marty Supreme (all one year after earning the same nods for playing Bob Dylan in 2024’s A Complete Unknown).—
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The volume was eventually reprinted in the Modern Library—an accolade that greatly pleased its author.—
Noun
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The United States has increasingly projected itself as a global bully, treating weaker nations as fair game for regime change by force — simply to assert power and dominance.—
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But despite Derrick Henry’s early dominance on the ground and Jackson’s sensational fourth quarter, another season ended in excruciating fashion.—
Noun
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And according to most sportsbooks, as of Wednesday evening, McMillan is the runaway favorite to win the end-of-year award.—
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That makes the very idea of awards in literature filled with landmines.—
Noun
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Wrought Studio Lawandra Modern Upholstered Swivel Storage Chair To the naked eye, this may seem like a typical upholstered chair, but there’s one sneaky detail that makes a world of difference.—
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That’s for the college game, where the head coach is the star and the difference between the haves and have-nots is massive.—
Noun
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Surrounding waters remain protected, preserving coral reefs and mangrove ecosystems that lend the island a sense of quiet separation.—
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Having no real material ready, Alex launches into a spontaneous public therapy session, getting personal about his separation and family life.—
Noun
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Education was considered an individual pursuit marked by moral excellency and only the students who did the best in school would have proceeded to higher education.—
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Zurich said the Game Changer Award pays tribute to excellency in the film business with a focus on leaders that not only cherish change and forward-thinking approaches in the business, but also stand for the DNA of what cinema has represented since its invention.—
Cite this Entry
“Distinction.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/distinction. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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