discerning

[dih-sur-ning, -zur-]

adjective

1. showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding.

   a discerning critic of French poetry.

   Synonyms: discriminating, sharp, keen, perceptive

discerning

/ dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ /

adjective

1. having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

Other Word Forms

• discerningly adverb
• nondiscerning adjective
• undiscerning adjective
• undiscerningly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discerning¹

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing ²

Example Sentences

Autumn’s eyes are wide and discerning, drinking in every detail of the forest like it’s a new video-game level.

Read more on Literature

Artists, he said, were "capable of recognising beauty even in the depths of pain, and of discerning hope in the tragedy of violence and war".

Read more on Barron's

While founders who have focused on quality, profitability and governance will continue to find capital, the market has become more discerning, adds Mr Daniel, "which is ultimately good for founders building for the long term".

Read more on BBC

He makes the list as consumers are becoming more discerning with their spending.

Read more on MarketWatch

Investors may be taking a more discerning look at capital spending generally as Big Tech companies ramp their expenditures while the returns of AI investment remain unclear.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• astute 
• insightful 
• knowledgeable 
• penetrating 
• perceptive 
• piercing 

When To Use

What does discerning mean?

Discerning is an adjective that means able to discern—recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgements by using such observations.Discerning is also the continuous (-ing) form of the verb discern. As an adjective, it can be used to describe someone who has the ability to discern or to describe such an ability.The ability to do this or the process of doing it is called discernment, as in Only through careful discernment can you tell a genuine artifact from the work of a counterfeiter. Things that can be identified or distinguished in such a way can be described as discernible.A close synonym of discerning is discriminating (not in the prejudicial sense).Example: Most chefs have a very discerning sense of taste.