DISCRIMINATING Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

discriminating 1 of 2

adjective

di-ˈskri-mə-ˌnā-tiŋ

Definition of discriminating

as in discriminatory

favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people accused of discriminating practices in the hiring of employees

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in characteristic

serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group a discriminating feature of poison ivy is a compound leaf with three mitten-shaped leaflets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

discriminating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of discriminate

as in differentiating

to understand or point out the difference in the human eye can discriminate between very slight gradations of color

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of discriminating

Adjective

Special effects were progressing with varying results, but intelligent storytelling was leading the charge as viewers became more discriminating. — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2025 Insurers, alerted to the problem and granted permission to respond, grew more discriminating in their underwriting and more probing in their investigations. — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

Verb

But this month, the Coalition for Open Democracy, a voter advocacy group, filed a lawsuit, arguing the New Hampshire law is unconstitutional for burdening eligible students' right to vote and discriminating against younger voters for their age. — Hansi Lo Wang, NPR, 17 Aug. 2026 The group has also supported legislation that would explicitly prohibit employers from discriminating against workers because they are enrolled in Medi-Cal, Smith said. — Naomi Taxay, Sacbee.com, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discriminating

Recent Examples of Synonyms for discriminating

Adjective

When the community is hostile toward or distrustful of a particular minority group, police may feel that discriminatory behavior toward that group is justified.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 28 Aug. 2026
Other retailers have also pulled merchandise that critics deemed racially insensitive, discriminatory or offensive after public backlash and social media protests.

— Star Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of discriminatory

Adjective

If physical gestures serve our relatives just fine, why did our own branch of the family tree gradually favor biological changes in our brains and anatomy that permitted our characteristic complexities in language and precision in speech?

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
And in relation to me and Baba—so much of that inability to express affection is characteristic of son-father relationships in Arab families and has so much to do with how both of us were taught what a man should behave like.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Verb

But cultivating consumer trust, as opposed to pursuing rapid product expansion and chasing virality, has become a defining — and differentiating — aspect of Westman Atelier’s go-to-market model.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 21 Aug. 2026
Meta is differentiating its new AI coding tool and Muse Spark family of models by price rather than capabilities when compared to popular offerings from from Anthropic and OpenAI, Wang said.

— Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of differentiating

Adjective

In recent days, the United States proposed new terms that were uneconomic, unfair and undermine the net benefits for Canada, and called into question the reliability of any deal.

— ABC News, ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026
And many of the 1970s nationalization of most major oil companies holdings in oil exporting nations were partly due to the sense that the original concession agreements were unfair.

— Michael Lynch, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of unfair

Adjective

These challenging conditions are precisely what make a summer off-road safari such a distinctive way to experience Iceland’s rugged interior.

— Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
Meghna Gulzar has a very distinctive voice and an ability to approach difficult subjects with both restraint and intensity.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of distinctive

Verb

However, recent scholarship posits that the structure was used as ordinary (rather than punitive) housing, and that the vulgar decor was in fact a distinguishing characteristic of the epoch.

— Jim Greer, SPIN, 3 Sep. 2026
This is particularly useful because deer are often active during twilight, when detecting predators can be more important than distinguishing a broad range of colors.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinguishing

Adjective

Transplants of muscle stem cells are a promising avenue for research, having distinct advantages over other tissues in their ability to encourage the growth of new blood vessels and limitations on rapid growth.

— Mike McRae September 02, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
Meanwhile, active adult rental has begun to emerge as a distinct property type.

— Nia Bowers, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of distinct

Adjective

Its technology has also reached production at volumes far beyond typical nuclear manufacturing.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026
On top of that over the last two weeks of August, a trough over the eastern Pacific was bringing in even heavier rain than typical for multiple days in a row, Weiss said.

— Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of typical

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“Discriminating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discriminating. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of discriminating

adjective

verb

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