barely distinguishable

USAGE SUMMARY

'barely distinguishable' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when something is difficult to recognize or differentiate. For example, "The two competitors were wearing identical uniforms, making it barely distinguishable who was on which team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Food

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

The loud garble of competing chants were barely distinguishable.

The New York Times

With a traditional source the image is barely distinguishable.

The Guardian

None of these are beautiful artifacts; most, in fact, are barely distinguishable from bound typescripts.

The New Yorker

The hamachi was well-seasoned, but the salmon and fluke were barely distinguishable.

The New York Times - Food

He was certainly infinitely superior to the current, barely distinguishable shower.

The Guardian - Sport

It is barely distinguishable from the left, promising no tax-and-spend changes, wearing sheep's clothing.

The Guardian

He says the race offers voters two "Republicrat" candidates, barely distinguishable.

The New York Times

The landscape, bathed in darkness, is barely distinguishable, while the dominant moon commands attention.

The New York Times

The lyrics were barely distinguishable above the rhythm section's blaring reverberations.

The New York Times - Arts

The figures of Adam and Eve are distant and barely distinguishable from the wilderness beyond them.

The New Yorker

Yet the crust was soft, barely distinguishable from the interior, and the bread was overly chewy.

The New York Times - Food

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "barely distinguishable" to convey a nuanced lack of difference, suggesting that while a distinction technically exists, it is minimal and difficult to perceive. This is useful when precision is needed, but the difference is of little impact.

Common error

Avoid using "barely distinguishable" when there is no real difference. It's for cases where something is technically different, but the difference is so slight it's almost non-existent. If things are truly identical, use "indistinguishable" or "identical" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "barely distinguishable" functions as an adjective phrase modifying a noun. It describes a quality of something that is difficult to differentiate or tell apart from something else. Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

43%

Science

20%

Books

11%

Less common in

Food

7%

Wiki

5%

Formal & Business

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "barely distinguishable" is a versatile adjective phrase used to describe a situation where differences are minimal and difficult to perceive. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, it's grammatically correct and frequently appears in diverse contexts, from News & Media to scientific publications. Its purpose is to highlight the subtlety or insignificance of distinctions, often implying a near-identity. When employing this expression, ensure that the difference is actually slight and avoid overstating the similarity. Alternatives like "scarcely perceptible" or "faintly discernible" can offer similar nuances. "Barely distinguishable" strikes a balance between formal and informal registers, making it appropriate for various writing styles.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

scarcely perceptible

Indicates an even lower degree of distinctness; something is almost unnoticeable.

hardly noticeable

Focuses on the difficulty in noticing something, implying a lack of prominence.

faintly discernible

Suggests that something can just barely be made out or recognized.

nearly identical

Emphasizes the sameness between two things, almost to the point of being indistinguishable.

almost imperceptible

Highlights how something is so subtle that it is difficult to perceive.

virtually the same

Suggests that the differences are so small that they are effectively equal.

difficult to differentiate

Highlights the challenge in distinguishing between two or more things.

tough to tell apart

Informal way of saying it's difficult to see the difference.

elusive difference

Focuses on how hard is to find and understand the dissimilarities

subtle variance

Emphasizes the understated character of the difference between two or more things

FAQs

How can I use "barely distinguishable" in a sentence?

You can use "barely distinguishable" to describe things that are very similar, but not exactly the same. For example, "The twins were so alike, their personalities were "barely distinguishable"".

What's a formal alternative to "barely distinguishable"?

A more formal alternative would be "scarcely perceptible" or "faintly discernible". For example, instead of saying "The differences were "barely distinguishable"", you could say "The differences were scarcely perceptible".

What's the difference between "barely distinguishable" and "indistinguishable"?

"Barely distinguishable" implies that a difference exists but is very slight, while "indistinguishable" means there is no perceptible difference at all. One example: "The shades of blue were so similar they were "barely distinguishable"", versus "The counterfeit money was "indistinguishable" from the real bills".

Can "barely distinguishable" be used for abstract concepts?

Yes, "barely distinguishable" can be used for both physical objects and abstract concepts like ideas, feelings, or qualities. For instance, "The politician's promises were "barely distinguishable" from those of his opponent."