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Distinguish vs. Discriminate — What's the Difference?

Distinguish vs. Discriminate — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Distinguish and Discriminate

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Distinguish

Recognize or treat (someone or something) as different
The child is perfectly capable of distinguishing reality from fantasy

Discriminate

To make a clear distinction; distinguish
Discriminate among the options available.

Distinguish

Manage to discern (something barely perceptible)
It was too dark to distinguish anything more than their vague shapes

Discriminate

To make distinctions on the basis of class or category without regard to individual merit, especially to show prejudice on the basis of ethnicity, gender, or a similar social factor
Was accused of discriminating against women.
Discriminated in favor of his cronies.

Distinguish

Make oneself worthy of respect by one's behaviour or achievements
Many distinguished themselves in the fight against Hitler
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Discriminate

To perceive or notice the distinguishing features of; recognize as distinct
Unable to discriminate colors.

Distinguish

To perceive as being different or distinct
Can you distinguish a pattern in this behavior?.

Discriminate

To make or constitute a distinction in or between
Methods that discriminate science from pseudoscience.
Characteristics that discriminate early stone artifacts from pieces of natural stone.

Distinguish

To perceive distinctly; discern
The lookout distinguished the masts of ships on the horizon.

Discriminate

(intransitive) To make distinctions.
Since he was color blind he was unable to discriminate between the blue and green bottles.

Distinguish

To demonstrate or describe as being different or distinct
A scientist who distinguished four species of the plant.

Discriminate

To treat or affect differently, depending on differences in traits.
Low self-esteem doesn't discriminate against anyone.

Distinguish

To be an identifying characteristic of; make noticeable or different
These spices distinguish this style of Asian cooking.

Discriminate

To make decisions based on prejudice.
The law prohibits discriminating against people based on their skin color.

Distinguish

To cause (oneself) to be respected or eminent
They have distinguished themselves as dedicated social workers.

Discriminate

(transitive) To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.

Distinguish

To perceive or indicate differences; discriminate
Can the child distinguish between right and wrong?.

Discriminate

Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.

Distinguish

To recognize someone or something as different from others based on its characteristics.

Discriminate

Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.

Distinguish

To see someone or something clearly or distinctly.

Discriminate

To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish.
To discriminate the goats from the sheep.

Distinguish

To make oneself noticeably different or better from others through accomplishments.
The soldier distinguished himself in combat and received a medal.

Discriminate

To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.

Distinguish

To make to differ.

Discriminate

To treat unequally.

Distinguish

Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.
Not more distinguished by her purple vest,Than by the charming features of her face.
Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine.

Discriminate

Recognize or perceive the difference

Distinguish

To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low.
Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth.

Discriminate

Treat differently on the basis of sex or race

Distinguish

To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum.
We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood.
Nor more can you distinguish of a man,Than of his outward show.

Discriminate

Distinguish;
I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish

Distinguish

To constitute a difference; to make to differ.
Who distinguisheth thee?

Discriminate

Marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions;
Discriminate judgments
Discriminate people

Distinguish

To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; - with by or for.

Discriminate

Noting distinctions with nicety;
A discriminating interior designer
A nice sense of color
A nice point in the argument

Distinguish

To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; - with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

Distinguish

To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible.
The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot.

Distinguish

Mark as different;
We distinguish several kinds of maple

Distinguish

Detect with the senses;
The fleeing convicts were picked out of the darkness by the watchful prison guards
I can't make out the faces in this photograph

Distinguish

Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense;
His modesty distinguishes him form his peers

Distinguish

Make conspicuous or noteworthy

Distinguish

Identify as in botany or biology, for example

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