as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind
a list of the chief differentiae between a controlling cult and a legitimate religious sect
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for differentia
Noun
-
There are nearly 50 species of pine trees native to North America with diverse characteristics and growing preferences.—
Luke Miller,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 July 2025 -
That’s why researchers have spent decades trying to use genetics and behavioral characteristics to divide the spectrum into meaningful subtypes.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
What wasn’t reported was Rivera’s aversion to pitches coming near him, a trait that’s fatal to long-term hitting success.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2025
-
This method allowed scientists to precisely manipulate traits like shape, color, and pattern — something impossible to do with living specimens.—
Stephanie Edwards,
Discover Magazine,
3 July 2025
Noun
-
These could be changed, but importers in any nation still could choose where to buy based on quality and cost rather than differing tariff rates charged by their own country.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
13 July 2025
-
Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
Noun
-
Delap’s performance was less easy to evaluate, but there were more signs that his speed, aggression and direct running are excellent raw attributes to work with.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
-
One of Hargitay’s themes is the toxicity of fame, especially when it’s awarded not for your accomplishments but your attributes.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Other notable features include an adjustable strap with a flat buckle and supersoft fabric.—
Anne Taylor,
Travel + Leisure,
9 July 2025
-
Its auto-pause technology is a special feature that prevents overheating by stopping airflow after three seconds of inactivity.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
Unlike high-profile hacks with clear attribution and corporate response, this breach is fragmented.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
-
So the attribution of anthropogenic climate change was proven beyond reasonable doubt, with 97% acceptance among scientists.—
Oliver Swainston,
Space.com,
28 June 2025
Noun
-
But the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges — the longtime accreditor of Florida’s 40 public universities and colleges — is the only one of the seven southern accreditation agencies that mandate DEI criteria.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
12 July 2025
-
Not so easy, but these four mostly meet the criteria.—
Amy Lindgren,
Twin Cities,
12 July 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Differentia.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/differentia. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share