"Confer distinction on" means to acknowledge someone's achievements or contribution to a particular field or society. It is a way of honoring someone for their work and recognizing their efforts. There are many synonyms for this phrase, such as award, grant, bestow, present, recognize, congratulate, and honor. Each of these words highlights a different aspect of the act of acknowledging someone's accomplishments. For example, award emphasizes the official recognition of an achievement, while congratulate focuses on expressing personal pleasure at another's success. Whatever word is used, the intent is the same - to show appreciation for the individual's excellence in their chosen field.