Distinguish
Distinguish verb - To understand or point out the difference in.
Usage example: even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds
Separate is a synonym for distinguish in comparison topic. In some cases you can use "Separate" instead the word "Distinguish" as a verb or a noun, when it comes to topics like same, differentiate, contrast, characterize. popular alternative
Nearby Words: distinguishing, distinguishable
Separate
Separate verb - To arrange or assign according to type.
Usage example: separate the students by reading ability
Distinguish is a synonym for separate in comparison topic. You can use "Distinguish" instead a verb "Separate", if it concerns topics such as same, contrast. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Related pairs
- part and distinguish
- part and separate
- group and distinguish
- group and separate
- sort and distinguish
- sort and separate
- classify and distinguish
- classify and separate
- divide and distinguish
- divide and separate
- set apart and distinguish
- set apart and separate
- isolate and distinguish
- isolate and separate
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- In a military division already known for their badassitude, he managed to distinguish himself for valor five separate times.
Source: Crazy Awesome / Real Life -
As previously noted, some readers use a separate term for "yuri by/for lesbians" to distinguish it from the more common types.
Source: Yuri Genre - A small correction: some researchers distinguish Bipolar disorder and Manic-depression as two separate disorders.
Source: Hollywood Psych
Cite this Source
Separate and Distinguish. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinguish/separate
Distinguish & Separate. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinguish/separate>.
Separate or Distinguish. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/distinguish/separate.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "distinguish" and "separate" have occurred on timeline