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Discern: alternatives and connections

Begin with the reviewed alternatives, then explore broader connections without treating every related word as an automatic substitute.

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26,102 words currently have published synonym-style alternatives
90,593 searchable synonym connections
350,924 published thesaurus relationships of every type
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Discern

To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish.

51 useful connections shown 12 reviewed relationships and 39 broader connections.
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Reviewed alternatives and contrasts

These links were deliberately created. Use the interchangeability score and guidance to judge whether a word will work in your sentence.

Broader term 5

Detect 76% connected

Detected.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Discover 76% connected

To uncover.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Find 76% connected

To meet with, or light upon, accidentally; to gain the first sight or knowledge of, as of something new, or unknown; hence, to fall in with, as a per…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Notice 76% connected

The act of noting, remarking, or observing; observation by the senses or intellect; cognizance; note.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Observe 76% connected

To take notice of by appropriate conduct; to conform one's action or practice to; to keep; to heed; to obey; to comply with; as, to observe rules or…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related term as a broader lexical category for at least one sense.

Manner of action 2

Discriminate 76% connected

Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Resolve 76% connected

To separate the component parts of; to reduce to the constituent elements; -- said of compound substances; hence, sometimes, to melt, or dissolve.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet identifies the related verb as a more specific manner of this action.

Entails 2

Comprehend 72% connected

To contain; to embrace; to include; as, the states comprehended in the Austrian Empire.

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Perceive 72% connected

To obtain knowledge of through the senses; to receive impressions from by means of the bodily organs; to take cognizance of the existence, character,…

oewn 2023 0% interchangeable

Open English WordNet records that the source verb entails the related action.

Synonym 3

Distinguish 92% connected

Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Recognize 92% connected

To know again; to perceive the identity of, with a person or thing previously known; to recover or recall knowledge of.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

Spot 92% connected

A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored.

oewn 2023 68% interchangeable

Open English WordNet places these words in at least one shared synset. They share a lexicalised sense, but context, register and collocation should still be checked before substitution.

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Words connected by meaning

Their definitions overlap or refer to similar ideas. Use these to widen your search, then compare the exact meanings.