discerning
Americanadjective
adjective
Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of discerning
Explanation
Discerning people pick up on subtle traits and are good judges of quality — they're the ones who can tell if your cupcakes are homemade from the finest ingredients or totally from a box mix. Discerning is an adjective that comes from the Old French discerner, meaning to “distinguish (between), separate (by sifting)” — which makes sense, because someone with discerning tastes or a discerning eye is good at distinguishing the good from the bad and sifting out the gems from the junk. If you're an ace at picking out fabulous fabrics, accessories, and shoes when you get dressed each morning, you probably have discerning fashion sense.
Vocabulary lists containing discerning
Leadership Vocabulary
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"Simon's Saga," Vocabulary from Episode 1
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Vocabulary from poems by Emily Dickinson
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
You, dear Salon reader, are discerning and responsible, ready to face the reality of the world we’re living in, for better or for worse.
From Salon • Jun. 5, 2026
Chinese consumers have "matured a lot", becoming more discerning, said Jing Daily's Nan.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
“From a public markets perspective, investors are very discerning and so a lot of the benefit of the doubt…is going to come from their historical track record.”
From MarketWatch • May 21, 2026
“People have a very discerning instinct,” said Yaroslavsky.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026
“I am quite good at discerning lies. I hear none from you. Your story also fits with what Hazel Levesque told us.”
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
