distinguished
41
5.2
- adjective
- /dɪsˈtɪŋɡwɪʃt/
- Formal
:
distinguido
- Nearing fifty years old, handsome and well-groomed, he looked distinguished in his dark gray suit.
Examples
-
Ladies and gentlemen, I don't think I'm wrong when I say we have a distinguished guest amongst us.
-
Scarlett had never seen anyone look quite so distinguished and aristocratic as her grandfather.
Fiction book (1991) -
I'd like to welcome our first witness, the distinguished Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency...
Fiction book (1992) -
And now, the distinguished secretary of defense... of the United States of America, Mr. Charles Kirkland.
-
Well, I wasn't expecting such distinguished visitors, Sir William.
-
Henry King was probably my most distinguished predecessor as Chairman of the ABA's International Section.
Academic text (1994) -
In 1939, Cambridge University was the home of the most distinguished contingent of philosophers in Great Britain.
Academic text (2001) -
On Friday, a distinguished foreign VIP will land at the airport, be escorted to a secure building where he will sign the necessary documents and then return to the airport.
-
Jeremy Edmonds, Peter's trainer, a distinguished-looking man in his fifties, watches from his wheelchair.
Fiction book (1992) -
The distinguished professor gave an inspiring lecture on climate change.
Synonyms
918
3.0
Impressive and large in appearance or style
116
5.6
People respect it for high quality or important achievements
71
4.6
Calm and serious in a way that shows self respect and gets respect from others
31
7.4
Well known and respected for important work
27
5.6
A person who is well known and respected in their field
24
3.6
Large and impressive in appearance or manner
23
5.7
Having an impressive, calm look that makes people feel respect
13
5.6
Having a large, impressive appearance that makes people notice and respect it
8
3.3
Respected and admired because of important achievements or a long history
6
5.6
Deeply respected and admired for age, wisdom, or good character
1
7.9
Showing a strong, commanding way of speaking or acting
Antonyms
Compounds
- Formal
2
6.8
A high military medal given to United States Army soldiers for very brave actions in battle
- Formal
1
7.1
A United States military medal given for heroism or great achievement in flying
- Formal
1
5.0
A US military medal for doing very important work in a top job during a war
1
8.4
A British military medal given to officers for brave service in battle
How Dignified
Surface Forms
Morphology
distinguished = distinguish (semi-transparent) = distinguish + ed
Formation from the verb with -ed is regular, but the sense 'dignified or impressive in appearance' is a transferred meaning related to being 'set apart' and thus not entirely transparent.
Etymology
Distinguished comes from the same old Latin root distinguere, 'to set apart', and you can imagine someone 'set apart' by a calm, noble look or manner; that's why distinguished also means having a dignified, impressive appearance.