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distinguished

distinguished

142 4.8
Very successful and respected for important achievements or good character
  • adjective
  • /dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃt/
  • Formal
: distinguido
  • Jim is one of the truly most distinguished Shakespeare scholars in the world.
  • a distinguished professor
  • a distinguished scholar
  • a distinguished service award

As you may know, Kathy held a long distinguished career in public service.

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Examples

  • Habib P. Mohamadian has a distinguished career as an engineering educator and researcher.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I am pleased to have the opportunity to address this distinguished audience today.

    Academic text (1991)
  • It's, as I say, a very distinguished panel.

  • I believe my distinguished guests from Rome have just arrived.

  • Welcome family, friends and distinguished judges to the Atlanta Performing Arts Center.

  • Carew was a quiet sort, with the distinguished air of a man who knows his own importance.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • He is one of a small, distinguished group of scientists.

  • Peter C. Rasmussen recently retired from ExxonMobil after a distinguished career of over 32 years.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The Imam of the Al-Aqsa Mosque is a distinguished scholar and linguist.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The recipient of the award is a distinguished scholar known for her groundbreaking research.

Synonyms

honored
vsdistinguished
  • Formal
325 3.3

Respected and admired because of important achievements or a long history

emphasizes achievement and admired personal character rather than ceremony
respected
vsdistinguished
248 2.3

Admired by many people for good qualities

is more about clear success and admired personal character
prestigious
vsdistinguished
118 5.6

People respect it for high quality or important achievements

focuses more on personal success and admired character than reputation alone
renowned
vsdistinguished
112 4.1

Well known and respected for being very good

puts more weight on personal success and moral character
famed
vsdistinguished
72 3.5

Well known and respected by many people

stresses respected personal character and success rather than simple notoriety
noted
vsdistinguished
  • Formal
65 3.3

Well known and admired for a particular skill or quality

is broader, covering overall success and respected character
celebrated
vsdistinguished
63 3.2

Famous and admired for important achievements or qualities

is less about fame and more about steady success and character
esteemed
vsdistinguished
  • Formal
55 4.6

A person or thing that many people respect and admire

adds the idea of notable success and strong public reputation
illustrious
vsdistinguished
  • Formal
31 7.4

Well known and respected for important work

adds a sense of personal success and respected character beyond fame
revered
vsdistinguished
28 5.6

Deeply respected and admired for age, wisdom, or good character

is broader, applying to widely admired success and good character
admired
vsdistinguished
20 1.8

Respected and looked up to by many people

is stronger, adding notable success and public recognition
meritorious
vsdistinguished
8 7.5

Worthy of praise or reward for good work

implies actual notable success and general admiration beyond deservedness
widely respected
vsdistinguished
6 2.8

Many people admire a person or organization for good work and honest behaviour

adds notable success and individual moral qualities to that broad admiration

Antonyms

681 1.0

Normal and not special or unusual

20 3.5

Being ordinary and not interesting

Compounds

A United States military medal given for heroism or great achievement in flying

A high military medal given to United States Army soldiers for very brave actions in battle

A US military medal for doing very important work in a top job during a war

A British military medal given to officers for brave service in battle

A British medal that honours soldiers for bravery in battle

How Respected

illustrious
  • Formal
31 7.4
eminent
  • Formal
32 5.6
distinguished
  • Formal
142 4.8
esteemed
  • Formal
55 4.6
respected
248 2.3

Surface Forms

distinguished positive
distinguishable positive

Morphology

distinguished = distinguish (semi-transparent) = distinguish + ed

The morphological process (verb + -ed -> adjective) is regular, but the adjectival meaning 'very successful/respected' is a metaphorical extension of 'set apart/marked', not directly predictable for all learners.

Etymology

Distinguished comes from an old Latin word distinguere, which means 'to set apart', so a person becomes 'set apart' by great work or achievements; that's why distinguished means very respected and admired.