Japan has many distinctive traits.
Source: tatoeba (281287)
Distinctive
/dɪˈstɪŋktɪv/
Synonyms for "distinctive" (155 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (31)
accurateappreciativeappropriatearticulateaudiblecategoricalcharacteristiccharacterizingclassificationalclassificatoryclearcontrastivecriticaldefiningdefinitedelicatedenominativediacriticaldiagnosticdifferencing
Show 1 more word
Adjective(6 words)
Verb(2 words)
Noun(2 words)
creative worksdefining word
Strong matches (47)
differentialdifferentiativediscretediscriminatediscriminatingdiscriminativedistinctdistinguisheddistinguishingdiversedivisionaldivisionaryexactexemplaryfastidiousfinehearablehi fihi-fihigh-fidelity
Show 9 more words
Noun(5 words)
Adjective(13 words)
distinctdistinct groupsdistinct persondistinguishabledistinguishing traitfeaturaliconicindividual artistindividual artist paintingindividualisticindividuated resourcesinimitablekicky
Related words (77)
Noun(10 words)
Determiner(2 words)
most individualmost individual traits
Adjective(24 words)
noncopyingnonrepetitivenotableparticular casepersonal stylepersonal traitpersonal uniquenessremarkablesignaturespecial election process stepsspecial prizestylistictypicaluncommonuncommon organismuniqueunique artworkunique contributionunique identifierunique incidents
Show 4 more words
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: accurate, appreciative, appropriate, articulate, audible.
- Sentence evidence is available for distinctive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "distinctive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "distinctive"
Keep "distinctive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "distinctive" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "distinctive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "distinctive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
6 entriesMore specific
6 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdistinctive featuredistinctive handwritingdistinctive logodistinctive lookdistinctive patterndistinctive style
Inflections
2 entriesmore distinctivemost distinctive
Derivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesSample sentences
21 total sentences available.
When dubbing Japanese TV series in English, characters from Osaka are sometimes given a Texas accent. Both Southern and Kansai accents are distinctive in their respective languages.
Source: tatoeba (707309)
With its distinctive Chinese features, the qipao enjoys growing popularity in the international world of high fashion.
Source: tatoeba (728057)
The tamborim lends a very slightly uneven and highly distinctive 16th note groove to samba music.
Source: tatoeba (814505)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "distinctive"?
Closest matches include accurate, appreciative, appropriate, articulate, audible.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "distinctive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.