tell the difference

VERB

discriminate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

assess discern distinguish between evaluate narrow down segregate specify

STRONG

collate compare contradistinguish contrast extricate judge know note perceive remark separate sever severalize sift

WEAK

difference discrepate know what's what make out split hairs tell apart

Antonyms

STRONG

combine join misinterpret misunderstand neglect unite

WEAK

confuse mix up

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.

Can you tell the difference between a million, a billion and a trillion?

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026

That mordant humor, however enjoyable, tiptoes around the unanswerable question of how, or even whether, we can tell the difference between cosplay and the real thing.

From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026

People can tell the difference between making a decision and delegating it to a system.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

Asked whether a customer could tell the difference, Mariani said: "It is very difficult for a member of the public that is not a trained fish biologist to identify one fillet from another."

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

The word “cat,” in my perspective, would be spelled “tac,” and I could not tell the difference.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers

tell the difference

Example Sentences

Related Words