diagnostic 1 of 2

adjective

ˌdī-ig-ˈnä-stik How to pronounce diagnostic (audio)
variants also diagnostical
Definition of diagnosticnext
as in characteristic
serving to identify as belonging to an individual or group studies that show that cultural diversity is a diagnostic feature of a thriving city

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

diagnostic

2 of 2

noun

as in feature
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind the thesis that moral decline is the infallible diagnostic of a decadent society

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 diagnostic
Adjective
If symptoms are present, the colonoscopy is classified as diagnostic rather than screening and is covered differently by insurance. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026 Google never actually mentions the word diabetes in its description of the feature, aside from a disclaimer at the end stating that Insulin Resistance Trends is not meant as a diagnostic or prescreening tool for the condition. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
When a problem gets this big, such simple diagnostics can be invaluable for grounding solutions in reality. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 13 Aug. 2026 The trap here is treating summer maintenance as a checklist rather than a diagnostic. — Malana Vantyler, Ascend Agency, 11 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for diagnostic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diagnostic
  1. characteristic
  2. feature
  3. distinctive
  4. quality
  5. distinct
  6. trait
  7. typical
  8. attribute
Adjective
  • While cognitive decline is far more common among individuals over 65 years, some genetic mutations cause the same characteristic loss of memory and mental processing in children.
    — Mike McRae August 26, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
  • But the link was far less clear between dementia and lower stages of CTE, or even those whose brains had been found to be free of the disease's characteristic buildups of tau protein.
    — Becky Sullivan, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • Japan has selected Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s luminously cerebral French-language feature All of a Sudden as its submission for the best international feature category at the 99th Academy Awards.
    — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Ryusuke Hamaguchi’s latest feature, All Of A Sudden, has been selected as Japan’s entry for the Best International Feature Film category at the 99th Academy Awards.
    — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of feature
Adjective
  • These challenging conditions are precisely what make a summer off-road safari such a distinctive way to experience Iceland’s rugged interior.
    — Gwen Nicol, Travel + Leisure, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Meghna Gulzar has a very distinctive voice and an ability to approach difficult subjects with both restraint and intensity.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of distinctive
Noun
  • The centre-back hopes signing for Birmingham will bring out latent leadership qualities.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • None of the lead articles compare firms that adopted these AI processes with otherwise similar firms that did not, on realized strategy quality or long-run performance.
    — Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of quality
Adjective
  • Lee said her ultimate vision is to use BodyCodes to filter search results for the user, so she will only be served jeans from brands that fit her distinct shape.
    — Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Tel-Rea, the Jedi character, is almost entirely melee-focused, but comes with her own entirely distinct skills and combat abilities, essentially requiring you to build your party around her.
    — Hayes Madsen, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of distinct
Noun
  • This suggests an inherent bias from the LLM's Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF) training, where human input inadvertently promotes traits like curiosity.
    — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Craig was extremely productive at Harvard and has NFL-caliber traits with his size, mobility and throw power.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of trait
Adjective
  • Netflix has worked assiduously to burnish its reputation as a home for advertisers seeking to align themselves with its popular programs and eager to avoid the traditional model of deploying typical 30-second commercials.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 26 Aug. 2026
  • However, this gets an all-new rear suspension with leaf springs; that setup allows for a greater payload than a typical torsion beam axle.
    — Abhimanyu Ghoshal, New Atlas, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of typical
Noun
  • Collectively, the launches position sustainability as one performance attribute among several—including comfort, opacity, cooling and durability—rather than as a standalone proposition.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
  • And Cullen is the reason Optimus Prime retained the attributes fans love so much about that character.
    — Mike Ryan, IndieWire, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of attribute

Browse Nearby Words

diagnosis
diagnostic
diagnostics
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Cite this Entry

“Diagnostic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diagnostic. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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