1
as in dividing
to set or force apart
we tried to separate the gluey pages, but they were stuck tight
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in parting
to go or move in different directions from a central point
the searchers separated in order to cover more ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in classifying
to arrange or assign according to type
separate the students by reading ability
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in isolating
to set or keep apart from others
separated the injured calf from the herd
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in differentiating
to understand or point out the difference in
trying to separate science from religion on one specific point
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of separating
The backpack itself is crafted from a durable, water-resistant, anti-abrasion material, and includes a wet pocket for separating damp items or dirty laundry.
—
Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 7 Jan. 2026
This was such a tedious process that Saint Ignatius College Prep had its own recycling club that mainly involved spending Fridays after school sitting on a classroom floor and separating the recyclables the school had generated throughout the week.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 7 Jan. 2026
With few clear policy differences separating the candidates on either side, the matchups are being driven largely by personality, sharpened by TV ads, fundraising muscle and the machinery of endorsements and turnout.
—Gromer Jeffers Jr.
political, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
Since then the school has made several changes, according to the suit, including a fence separating the pickup line from a nearby lawn, a foot pathway for pedestrians, and a stop sign in front of the pathway, among other changes.
—Los Angeles Times, 1 Jan. 2026
Unlike lithium-ion cells, vanadium flow batteries use liquid electrolytes stored in external tanks, separating power from energy capacity.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 31 Dec. 2025
Roll the dough sheets back up without separating them into triangles.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Great Again slogan appears just below the line separating overt and covert white supremacy.
—Cate Charron, IndyStar, 11 Nov. 2025
At the beginning of November, the former couple settled their divorce over two years after first separating.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for separating
Verb
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The debate within the Democratic coalition is already bigger and louder, dividing moderates in swing states from progressives elated by Mamdani's rocket to victory in the nation's largest city.—
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One was a real human blastocysts, which contain about 100 to 200 rapidly dividing cells.—
Verb
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Love, give me lips and noses, skin parting tangy skin.—
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Daedone persuaded the swelling ranks of OM enthusiasts, givers and receivers alike, to join an experiment in communal living, gradually parting them from their wealth and autonomy.—
Verb
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Unlike an image-classifying neural network, a PINN doesn’t learn by studying external data.—
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Similarly, ride-share services like Uber and Lyft have faced multiple lawsuits for classifying drivers as independent contractors rather than employees, allowing the companies to avoid providing minimum wage, overtime pay and other benefits.—
Verb
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While Paris is often framed as endlessly romantic, Wells says the day-to-day realities can be isolating.—
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Rather than isolating treatment from real life, Peak Path Health incorporates family engagement to help loved ones understand addiction beyond surface behaviors.—
Verb
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Lilium Jet Lilium focuses on regional air mobility rather than short-hop urban routes, differentiating itself from most air taxi competitors.—
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Either way, each realizes the route to victory means differentiating herself from the other.—
Verb
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Decades ago, some wealthier Venezuelans began splitting their time between South Florida and their home country, gradually spending more and more time.—
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After dribbling once with his right hand, Brown unleashed a Eurostep to his left, splitting the two Raptors players.—
Verb
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As time passed, Webster found his views diverging from some of his neighbors’ in the Hudson Valley.—
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Emo was diverging into the pop world in every way imaginable.—
Verb
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To that point, Lee stressed the importance of city names preceding a team name as a distinguishing factor.—
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Presidents learn quickly the wisdom of distinguishing between an authoritarian regime and the people who suffer under its rule.—
Cite this Entry
“Separating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/separating. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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