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discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]
/ dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discerning ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding: a discerning critic of French poetry.

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RELATED WORDS

penetrating, knowledgeable, piercing, perceptive, astute, insightful, knowing, acute, bright, brilliant, clever, critical, ingenious, intelligent, judicious, perspicacious, sagacious, sage, sensitive, sharp

Nearby words

discarnate, discase, discectomy, discern, discernible, discerning, discernment, discerptible, discharge, discharge lamp, discharge printing

Origin of discerning

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing2
Related formsdis·cern·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing·ly, adverb

Definition for discerning (2 of 2)

discern

[ dih-surn, -zurn ]
/ dɪˈsɜrn, -ˈzɜrn /

verb (used with object)

to perceive by the sight or some other sense or by the intellect; see, recognize, or apprehend: They discerned a sail on the horizon.
to distinguish mentally; recognize as distinct or different; discriminate: He is incapable of discerning right from wrong.

verb (used without object)

to distinguish or discriminate.

Origin of discern

1300–50; Middle English (< Old French) < Latin discernere to separate, equivalent to dis- dis-1 + cernere to separate
SYNONYMS FOR discern
1 discover, descry, espy. See notice.
2, 3 differentiate, judge.
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discern ON THESAURUS.COM
Related formsdis·cern·er, nounpre·dis·cern, verb (used with object)un·dis·cerned, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for discerning

British Dictionary definitions for discerning (1 of 2)

discerning

/ (dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ) /

adjective

having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating
Derived Formsdiscerningly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for discerning (2 of 2)

discern

/ (dɪˈsɜːn) /

verb

(tr) to recognize or perceive clearly
to recognize or perceive (differences)
Derived Formsdiscerner, noun

Word Origin for discern

C14: from Old French discerner, from Latin discernere to divide, from dis- 1 (apart) + cernere to separate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012