DIFFERENTIAL Synonyms: 28 Similar and Opposite Words

differential

adjective

ˌdi-fə-ˈren(t)-shəl

Definition of differential

as in discriminatory

favoring, applying, or being unequal treatment of different classes of people did away with differential pay scales for men and women doing the same work

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of differential But between 2016 and 2023, some of the buildings also experienced differential settlement at different orders, Amelung said. — Denise Hruby, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026 Also, all the differential, traction control, and suspension are a simplified version of the real car. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 When applied to reactor exhaust lines, the device performs a task called differential pumping. — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 28 Aug. 2026 The switch sits right next to the differential lock controls for off-road control. — New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026 Privacy-preserving techniques such as differential privacy, federated learning, and on-device modeling let a publisher predict reader behavior without ever assembling an identifiable profile in a central warehouse. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 If necessary, tiebreakers include head-to-head matchups, point differential, total points and, if needed, a random drawing. — Lauren Williams, AJC.com, 15 July 2026 The sample was selected by The New York Times in multiple steps to account for differential telephone coverage, nonresponse and significant variation in the productivity of telephone numbers by state. — New York Times, 30 June 2026 That 232-run jump is the largest year-over-year run differential improvement in club history. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 28 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for differential

Adjective

Another 16% experienced discriminatory comments or abuse, while 10% experienced physical aggression.

— Andrew Adam Newman, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
The Justice Department moved to terminate more than a dozen decades-old school desegregation cases without asking the court first to review whether the district successfully ended its past discriminatory practices, a watchdog group has found.

— Sarah N. Lynch, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of discriminatory

Adjective

Some also called for a reform of the university admissions system, seen by many as complex and unfair.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
Trump has imposed new tariffs on Brazilian goods this year, including a 25% levy on some products over what the US described as unfair trade practices.

— Alessandra Freitas, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of unfair

Browse Nearby Words

differentiae

differential

differentiate

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“Differential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/differential. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of differential

adjective

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