discriminate
Differentiate with prejudice
To discriminate is to recognize or make distinctions.
A wine expert discriminates among vintages; a person of discriminating taste notices fine differences.
But discriminate more often carries negative weight—to treat people unfairly based on group membership: The company was found to have discriminated against women in hiring.
The neutral sense (perceive differences) and the charged sense (act on prejudice) coexist, though the latter now dominates.
Identify differences between things
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- discernPerceive with careful attention
- perceiveBecome conscious of
- recognizePerceive as known
identify · tell apart · detect · separate · categorize · classify · contrast · compare
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- sexismGender-based prejudice
- homophobiaPrejudice against same-sex attraction
xenophobia · stereotype · intolerance · ageism · ableism · transphobia · misogyny · exclusion
Having keen judgment
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- particularSpecific or fussy
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
- refinedPurified or cultured
exacting · meticulous · critical · persnickety · finicky · fussy · cultivated · sophisticated
Guaranteed individual legal protections
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
- protected classCategory with anti-discrimination shields
- disparate impactDiscrimination through neutral practices
- Title VIIEmployment discrimination prohibition statute
fair housing · employment law · accommodation · harassment · retaliation · complaint · lawsuit · tribunal
differentiate
Identify differences between things
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- discernPerceive with careful attention
- perceiveBecome conscious of
recognize · identify · tell apart · detect · separate · categorize · classify · contrast · compare · sift
prejudice
Preformed unfavorable opinion
- bigotryIntolerance toward differing views
- racismPrejudice based on ethnicity
- sexismGender-based prejudice
homophobia · xenophobia · stereotype · intolerance · ageism · ableism · transphobia · misogyny · exclusion · marginalization
discerning
Having keen judgment
- choosyOverly particular about preferences
- particularSpecific or fussy
- fastidiousExcessively attentive to detail
refined · exacting · meticulous · critical · persnickety · finicky · fussy · cultivated · sophisticated · connoisseur
civil rights
Guaranteed individual legal protections
- equal opportunityUnbiased chance for all
- protected classCategory with anti-discrimination shields
- disparate impactDiscrimination through neutral practices
Title VII · fair housing · employment law · accommodation · harassment · retaliation · complaint · lawsuit · tribunal · remedy
discriminateindiscriminate
Lacking selective judgment
undiscriminating · promiscuous · unselective · wholesale · sweeping
- discrimination lawsLegal protections against prejudice
- age discriminationPrejudice based on years lived
- racial discriminationPrejudice based on ethnicity
- gender discriminationPrejudice based on sex
- job discriminationPrejudice in hiring or promotion
- housing discriminationUnequal treatment in property access
discrimination, discriminating, indiscriminate, discriminatory, indiscriminately, discriminated, nondiscriminatory, discriminates, nondiscrimination