fine distinction

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Revilers of Epstein’s pals draw a fine distinction between those who continued to associate with him after the ’08 conviction and those who didn’t.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

The U.S. does allow for some explicit materials to be restricted from minors, but it’s a fine distinction that can require the courts to define, Greene said.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 16, 2021

Barr made a fine distinction: he said he was responding to media reports that members of Mueller’s team had expressed frustration about the summary, as opposed to Mueller himself.

From The Guardian • May 1, 2019

Outside, though, as the fog of fiction wears off, the real world seems to have gotten suddenly darker, incapable of fine distinction, inhospitable to ambivalence.

From New York Times • Aug. 3, 2018

“Have you always been that way?” asked Milo impatiently, for he felt that that was a needlessly fine distinction.

From "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster