distinguished
adjective
dis·tin·guished di-ˈstiŋ-(g)wisht 
1
: marked by eminence, distinction (see distinction sense 4), or excellence
distinguished leadership
our distinguished guest
2
: befitting an eminent person
a distinguished setting
Synonyms
- august
- dignified
- distingué
- imposing
- portly
- solemn
- staid
- stately
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
She is distinguished for her achievements in genetic research. heads turned as the well-dressed, distinguished couple strode through the hotel lobby
Recent Examples on the Web The corgis were also present when the queen welcomed visitors at the palace, including distinguished statesmen and officials. 
Samya Kullab, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 Also featured will be historic walking tours of the campus; lectures from distinguished Notre Dame faculty and staff, including NDC alumnae; a performance by the band Billy Likes Soda; and three NDC athletic contests. cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 Janet Yellen is a distinguished economist, but her tenure as Treasury Secretary hasn’t enhanced her reputation. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 In another area, visitors can see and hear testimony from distinguished Americans on how Robinson affected their lives — from some athletes, yes, but also from the likes of former President George W. Bush and former Atty. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2022 Variety spoke to director Adrian Sibley and Richard Harris’ son Jared Harris – a distinguished actor himself, and one of the originators of the project – about how the documentary came to be made. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Sep. 2022 The film premieres out of competition in Venice in conjunction with Schrader receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, an honor fully earned with a distinguished body of work going back almost 50 years. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Tim Shanahan, who is the distinguished professor emeritus in education at the University of Illinois, Chicago, was one of the co-authors of the withering Student Achievement Partners report on Units of Study. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022 As usual, celebrities and distinguished entertainment professionals traveled to the City of Canals to celebrate and reward the best in cinematic excellence. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 1 Sep. 2022 See More
Samya Kullab, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2022 Also featured will be historic walking tours of the campus; lectures from distinguished Notre Dame faculty and staff, including NDC alumnae; a performance by the band Billy Likes Soda; and three NDC athletic contests. cleveland, 10 Sep. 2022 Janet Yellen is a distinguished economist, but her tenure as Treasury Secretary hasn’t enhanced her reputation. The Editorial Board, WSJ, 8 Sep. 2022 In another area, visitors can see and hear testimony from distinguished Americans on how Robinson affected their lives — from some athletes, yes, but also from the likes of former President George W. Bush and former Atty. Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2022 Variety spoke to director Adrian Sibley and Richard Harris’ son Jared Harris – a distinguished actor himself, and one of the originators of the project – about how the documentary came to be made. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 Sep. 2022 The film premieres out of competition in Venice in conjunction with Schrader receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement, an honor fully earned with a distinguished body of work going back almost 50 years. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2022 Tim Shanahan, who is the distinguished professor emeritus in education at the University of Illinois, Chicago, was one of the co-authors of the withering Student Achievement Partners report on Units of Study. Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 1 Sep. 2022 As usual, celebrities and distinguished entertainment professionals traveled to the City of Canals to celebrate and reward the best in cinematic excellence. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 1 Sep. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
see distinguish
First Known Use
1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing distinguished
Kids Definition
distinguished
adjective
dis·tin·guished di-ˈstiŋ-gwisht
: widely known and admired
a distinguished scientist
distinguished 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in imposing
having or showing a formal and serious or reserved manner heads turned as the well-dressed, distinguished couple strode through the hotel lobby Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- imposing
- dignified
- decorous
- aristocratic
- solemn
- elegant
- handsome
- staid
- portly
- august
- distingué
- stately
- seemly
- proper
- noble
- somber
- magisterial
- elevated
- sober
- majestic
- lordly
- grave
- sombre
- grim
- po-faced
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- silly
- goofy
- frivolous
- coarse
- undignified
- improper
- giddy
- vulgar
- uncouth
- unseemly
- crude
- indecent
- flighty
- crass
2
as in outstanding
standing above others in rank, importance, or achievement a distinguished astronomer who is widely respected in the field Synonyms & Similar Words
- outstanding
- prestigious
- illustrious
- notable
- eminent
- famous
- noteworthy
- honored
- celebrated
- renowned
- superior
- star
- noble
- bright
- signal
- luminous
- preeminent
- famed
- redoubtable
- exalted
- infamous
- glorious
- reputable
- notorious
- dominant
- predominant
- astral
- paramount
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- insignificant
- minor
- unimportant
- average
- obscure
- inferior
- mediocre
- uncelebrated
- unsung
distinguished
2 of 2verb
1
as in differentiated
to understand or point out the difference in even at such a young age, he could distinguish the calls of various birds Synonyms & Similar Words
- differentiated
- discerned
- separated
- discriminated
- differenced
- understood
- contradistinguished
- secerned
- divided
- comprehended
- demarcated
- set off
- knew
- severed
- grasped
- parted
- marked (off)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confused
- mixed (up)
- mingled
- confounded
- mistook
- lumped (together)
2
as in characterized
to be an important feature of a collection of recipes distinguished by their ease and simplicity Synonyms & Similar Words
- characterized
- differentiated
- marked
- individualized
- customized
- particularized
3
as in identified
to find out or establish the identity of learned at an early age to distinguish the sound of a piano in an orchestra Synonyms & Similar Words
- identified
- found
- located
- pinpointed
- recognized
- fingered
- diagnosed
- determined
- investigated
- IDed
- put one's finger on
- singled (out)
- examined
- picked out
- discovered
- disclosed
- revealed
- spotted
- scrutinized
- inspected
- noticed
- ID'd
- observed
- placed
- checked
- betrayed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- concealed
- disguised
- camouflaged
- hid
- simulated
- feigned
- shammed
- counterfeited
4
as in noticed
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes could barely distinguish the garden gate through the mist Synonyms & Similar Words
- noticed
- regarded
- spotted
- remarked
- eyed
- noted
- saw
- observed
- discerned
- viewed
- perceived
- sighted
- beheld
- identified
- descried
- witnessed
- considered
- spied
- espied
- watched
- caught
- marked
- studied
- picked out
- looked (at)
- got a load of
- examined
- laid eyes on
- scrutinized
- scanned
- set eyes on
- surveyed
- inspected
- made out
- glimpsed
- heeded
- minded
- picked up
- attended (to)
- peered (at)
- glanced (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ignored
- disregarded
- neglected
- overlooked
- missed
- passed over
- overpassed
5
as in classified
to arrange or assign according to type on the exam we were asked to distinguish the specimens by acidity Synonyms & Similar Words
- classified
- ranked
- grouped
- relegated
- recognized
- distributed
- separated
- graded
- categorized
- placed
- identified
- listed
- classed
- typed
- assorted
- ranged
- organized
- referred
- sorted
- codified
- pegged
- digested
- compartmentalized
- compartmented
- cataloged
- ordered
- broke down
- disposed
- filed
- alphabetized
- culled
- systematized
- arrayed
- indexed
- drew up
- marshaled
- pigeonholed
- catalogued
- marshalled
- winnowed
- clustered
- reclassified
- clumped
- sifted
- screened
- shelved
- regrouped
- subcategorized
- colligated
- set
- sieved
- recategorized
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- confused
- lumped
- scrambled
- disarranged
- jumbled
- mixed (up)
- misclassified
- mis-sorted
- missorted
- mistyped
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of distinguished are celebrated, eminent, famous, illustrious, noted, notorious, and renowned. While all these words mean "known far and wide," distinguished implies acknowledged excellence or superiority.
a distinguished scientist who won the Nobel Prize
The words celebrated and distinguished are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, celebrated implies notice and attention especially in print.
the most celebrated beauty of her day
Although the words eminent and distinguished have much in common, eminent implies even greater prominence for outstanding quality or character.
the country's most eminent writers
The meanings of famous and distinguished largely overlap; however, famous implies little more than the fact of being, sometimes briefly, widely and popularly known.
a famous actress
While the synonyms illustrious and distinguished are close in meaning, illustrious stresses enduring honor and glory attached to a deed or person.
illustrious war heroes
In some situations, the words noted and distinguished are roughly equivalent. However, noted suggests well-deserved public attention.
the noted mystery writer
Notorious frequently adds to famous an implication of questionableness or evil.
a notorious gangster
While in some cases nearly identical to distinguished, renowned implies more glory and acclamation.
one of the most renowned figures in sports history
- one's conscience pricks
- one's conscience pricks (oneself)
- one's conscience pricks oneself
- one's elders and betters
- one's eyes fall on
- one's face falls
- one's face lights up
- one's head off
- one's heart bleeds for
- one's heart is (just) not in something
- one's heart is just not in something
- one's heart is not in something
- one's heart leaps
- one's heart melts
- one's heart out
- one's heart sinks
- one's house in order
- one's inner self
- one's keep
- one's kind of
- one's level best
- one's nose is to the grindstone
- one's old self
- one's own man
- one's real self