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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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
The same bill would also carve out Louisville's Central Business District from requirements to fund services through specific differential tax percentages over time.
—
Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Apple’s on-device models for Siri and app suggestions follow a similar logic, using differential privacy to obscure individual signals while still learning across the population.
—Shiva Chandrashekher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
If two teams wind up tied in the standings, the tiebreaker, per FIFA rules, is goal differential and then total number of goals scored.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
In that differential, balance sheets either hemorrhage or flex.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for differential
Eleanor McCrary, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
Apple’s on-device models for Siri and app suggestions follow a similar logic, using differential privacy to obscure individual signals while still learning across the population.
—Shiva Chandrashekher, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
If two teams wind up tied in the standings, the tiebreaker, per FIFA rules, is goal differential and then total number of goals scored.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 20 June 2025
In that differential, balance sheets either hemorrhage or flex.
—Guney Yildiz, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for differential
Recent Examples of Synonyms for differential
Adjective
-
Paramount also eliminated its diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to align with the Trump administration's view that such affirmative action policies are discriminatory.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
-
Hunter Biden to the Rescue Paramount has also dismantled its diversity, equity and inclusion programs to reflect the Trump administration's stance that the initiatives constitute discriminatory affirmative action.—
Sonam Sheth
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
But South Korean cars from Hyundai and Kia factor significantly into the $66-billion trade deficit that Trump has decried as unfair.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
13 July 2025
-
Many schools that served mostly low-income students were issued D’s and F’s, which many educators and parents found unfair.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Differential.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/differential. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share