Showing results for "discerning"

• present participle of discern.

discerning

American  

[dih-sur-ning, -zur-] / dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /

adjective

1. showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding.

   a discerning critic of French poetry.

   Synonyms:

   discriminating, sharp, keen, perceptive

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discerning British  

/ dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ /

adjective

1. having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

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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

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

Etymology

Origin of discerning

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

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.

Example Sentences

Instead, it has relied on character, restraint, discerning judgment and a capacity to distinguish between compromise and moral surrender.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

But it was always clear to any discerning viewer that these were the overcompensations of a man beset by eternal emptiness.

From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026

Casting his discerning eye on the pile was Ahmad Mastour, a gum trader with Afritec, a Sudanese gum-processing company.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2026

Chinese consumers have "matured a lot", becoming more discerning, said Jing Daily's Nan.

From Barron's • May 27, 2026

Despite these precautions, from the very first day, the headmistress had no trouble discerning the eccentricities of her new pupil.

From "The House of the Spirits: A Novel" by Isabel Allende

Related Words

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