discriminate

When you discriminate between two things, you can tell the difference between them and can tell them apart.

The ability to discriminate between similar objects is important. For example, if you want to be a good root farmer, it helps if you can discriminate between a turnip and a parsnip. However, some people take it too far and discriminate against other people, treating them differently based on their physical characteristics or abilities. To be able to discriminate between a turnip and a radish is good, but to discriminate against people is not.

Definitions of discriminate
  1. adjective
    marked by the ability to see or make fine distinctions
    “discriminate judgments”
    “discriminate people”
    Synonyms:
    discriminating
    showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste
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    Antonyms:
    indiscriminate
    not marked by fine distinctions
    promiscuous
    not selective of a single class or person
    sweeping, wholesale
    ignoring distinctions
    indiscriminating, undiscriminating
    not discriminating
    general
    applying to all or most members of a category or group
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  2. verb
    distinguish
    “I could not discriminate the different tastes in this complicated dish”
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    type of:
    discern, distinguish, make out, pick out, recognise, recognize, spot, tell apart
    perceive, recognize, or detect with the senses
  3. verb
    recognize or perceive the difference
    synonyms: discern, know apart
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    types:
    subtilize
    mark fine distinctions and subtleties, as among words
    type of:
    differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
    mark as different
  4. verb
    treat differently on the basis of sex or race
    synonyms: separate, single out
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    types:
    show 13 types...
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    insulate, isolate
    place or set apart
    hive off
    remove from a group and make separate
    segregate
    separate by race or religion; practice a policy of racial segregation
    redline
    discriminate in selling or renting housing in certain areas of a neighborhood
    disadvantage, disfavor, disfavour
    put at a disadvantage; hinder, harm
    segregate
    separate or isolate (one thing) from another and place in a group apart from others
    ghettoise, ghettoize
    put in a ghetto
    cloister
    seclude from the world in or as if in a cloister
    seclude, sequester, sequestrate, withdraw
    keep away from others
    quarantine
    place into enforced isolation, as for medical reasons
    maroon
    leave stranded on a desert island without resources
    hamper, handicap, hinder
    put at a disadvantage
    prejudice
    disadvantage by prejudice
    type of:
    differentiate, distinguish, secern, secernate, separate, severalise, severalize, tell, tell apart
    mark as different
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