difference

I

(New American Roget's College Thesaurus)

Dissimilarity

Nouns

1. difference, differentness, unlikeness, variance, variation, variety; diversity, dissimilarity, multiformity; divergence, dissimilitude; odds, incompatibility (see disagreement); uniqueness, novelty (see unconformity); deviation; disparity, inequality, differential, margin; distinction, contradistinction; analysis, hairsplitting; nice, fine, delicate, or subtle distinction; generation gap; ableism, ageism; incongruence, shade of difference, nuance; discordance, discrimination, differentiation; antithesis, contrast; culture shock; moods and tenses.

2. different thing, far cry, horse of a different or another color, different story, something else again, quite another thing, tertium quid; this, that, and the other; no such thing; grab bag; gender bias, gender gap, genderism, glass ceiling; deviate, deviant. Informal, something completely different. See change.

Verbs — be different, differ, vary, mismatch, contrast, compare; diverge, deviate, branch out, disagree with; ring the changes; differentiate, draw a line, tell apart, particularize; specialize (see speciality); diversify; vary, change; discriminate, distinguish, set off, separate the men from the boys; analyze; split hairs.

Adjectives — differing, different, distinct, diverse, disparate, heterogeneous, eclectic, all manner of; distinguishable, varied, modified; diversified, various, divers, all manner of; variform; daedal; incongruous, incompatible; distinctive, characteristic; discriminative; other, another, not the same; unequal, unmatched; separate but equal; widely apart, dissimilar, poles apart.

Adverbs — differently; otherwise, else; alongside of; on the one or other side, on the other hand.

Phrases — every fool is different; one man's meat is another man's poison; every land has its own law.

Quotations — Variety is the spice of life, that gives it all its flavor (William Cowper), It were not best that we should all think alike; it is difference of opinion that makes horse races (Mark Twain), The difference between burlesque and the newspapers is that the former never pretended to be performing a public service by exposure (I. F. Stone), It makes a difference whose ox is gored (Martin Luther), There is very little difference between one man and another; but what little there is, is very important (William James), If you aren't doing something different, you aren't doing anything at all (Neil Cargile).

Antonyms, see identity, similarity.

II

(Roget's IV) n.

1. [The quality of being different]

Syn. dissimilarity, disagreement, divergence, contrast, state of being different, nonconformity, contrariety, contrariness, deviation, opposition, antithesis, inequality, diversity, unlikeness, departure, lack of identity, lack of resemblance, variance, variation, discrepancy, separation, differentiation, distinctness, separateness, heterogeneity, dissimilitude, incongruity, asymmetry; see also contrast 1 , variety 1 .

Ant. agreement*, similarity, resemblance.

2. [That which is unlike in comparable things]

Syn. disparity, distinction, variance, deviation, departure, discrepancy, inconsistency, distinguishing characteristic, peculiarity, idiosyncrasy, exception, digression, contrast, unconformity, aberration, irregularity, anomaly, abnormality, contradistinction, deflection, interval; see also variation 2 .

Ant. similarity*, likeness, common ground.

3. [Personal dissension]

Syn. discord, estrangement, dissent, disagreement; see dispute .

• make a difference,

Syn. change, have an effect, affect; see matter 1 .

• split the difference*,

Syn. compromise, meet halfway, come to an agreement, share; see agree , arbitrate .

• what's the difference?*,

Syn. what does it matter? what difference does it make? so what?*; see why .

III

(Roget's 3 Superthesaurus) n.

1. dissimilarity contrast, antithesis, variance, opposition, distinction, asymmetry, differentiation, inconformity, unlike-ness, deviation.

2. disagreement argument, dispute, contention, clash, controversy, dissension, conflict, debate, quarrel, opposition, contradiction.

ANT.: 1. similarity, likeness, correspondence, mirror image. 2. agreement, concurrence, accord

IV

(Roget's Thesaurus II) noun 1. The condition of being unlike or dissimilar: discrepance, discrepancy, disparity, dissimilarity, dissimilitude, distinction, divarication, divergence, divergency, unlikeness. See SAME. 2. A marked lack of correspondence or agreement: disagreement, discrepance, discrepancy, disparity, gap, incompatibility, incongruity, inconsistency. See AGREE. 3. The condition or fact of varying: variance, variation. See CHANGE, SAME. 4. A state of disagreement and disharmony: clash, conflict, confrontation, contention, difficulty, disaccord, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissentience, dissidence, dissonance, faction, friction, inharmony, schism, strife, variance, war, warfare. See CONFLICT.