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distinctively

distinctively

7 4.5
In a way that makes someone or something clearly different and easy to notice
  • adverb
  • /dɪˈstɪŋktɪvli/
translation icon : de manera distintiva
  • The cuisine at the new restaurant is distinctively spicy, attracting food lovers from all over.
  • distinctively human
  • distinctively American
  • distinctively modern

And frankly, was was a bit racist, but in ways that that are sort of distinctively French.

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Examples

  • The artist's style is distinctively vibrant, setting her apart from her contemporaries.

  • More young Japanese think internationally and believe that there can be distinctively Japanese approaches to world problems.

    Academic text (1990)
  • A woman so distinctively different.

  • You describe a distinctively human trait.

  • Urban Indian leaders face overwhelming problems that are distinctively related to their areas and populations.

    Academic text (1997)
  • Ross refuses to seal off distinctively human activity from her surroundings, whether natural or cultural.

    Academic text (2008)
  • An aim of phenomenography, then, is to characterize the distinctively different ways in which people understand things.

    Academic text (1994)
  • American society treated them as it did other non-whites, rather than distinctively as Filipinos.

    Academic text (1990)
  • So I love this because many advertisers have heard the argument that if you behave distinctively, you're more likely to be noticed.

  • Defying their families in order to paint, Chagall and Rothko produced work informed by a distinctively Jewish sensibility.

    Academic text (2008)

Synonyms

uniquely
vsdistinctively
75 4.5

In a way that is the only one like it

describes a typical trait that makes someone different not being the sole case
singularly
vsdistinctively
15 6.4

In a way that is very unusual or impressive

focuses on being a characteristic quality rather than only striking intensity
peculiarly
vsdistinctively
3 5.9

In a way that shows a person or place's own style

emphasizes the typical quality that makes them clearly different
idiosyncratically
vsdistinctively
1 8.9

In a way that is unusual for one person or group

marks features that are typical of someone and set them apart
distinguishably
vsdistinctively
6.9

In a way you can tell is different from others

is a recurring trait that identifies someone beyond mere noticeability

Antonyms

In a way you cannot tell them apart

How Distinctive

unmistakably
13 4.1
distinctively
7 4.5
recognizably
  • US
3 4.6
subtly
48 5.1
indistinctly
23 6.3

Surface Forms

distinctively positive

Morphology

distinctively = distinctive (transparent) = distinct + ive + ly

Formed by the clear adjective 'distinctive' plus the productive adverbial suffix '-ly', so the manner meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

Distinctively comes from the word distinct, formed with the prefix dis- that meant 'apart', and distinct means 'separate' or 'clearly different'. So, to do something distinctively is to do it in a way that 'stands apart' and is easy to notice.