secern
verb
se·cern si-ˈsərn 
secerned; secerning; secerns
transitive verb
: to discriminate in thought : distinguish
Synonyms
- difference
- differentiate
- discern
- discriminate
- distinguish
- separate
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Word History
Etymology
Latin secernere to separate — more at secret
First Known Use
1604, in the meaning defined above
secerning
verb
as in differentiating
to understand or point out the difference in those philistines who seemingly cannot secern artistic depiction of the nude from blatant pornography Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- differentiating
- distinguishing
- discriminating
- discerning
- contradistinguishing
- differencing
- separating
- understanding
- setting off
- knowing
- dividing
- comprehending
- severing
- grasping
- demarcating
- marking (off)
- parting
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- mixing (up)
- confusing
- mistaking
- lumping (together)
- mingling
- confounding