Dictionary.com

discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]
/ dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: discerning / discerningly on Thesaurus.com
adjective
showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding: a discerning critic of French poetry.
QUIZ
QUIZ YOURSELF ON "IS" VS. "ARE"
"Is" it time for a new quiz? "Are" you ready? Then prove your excellent skills on using "is" vs. "are."
Question 1 of 7
IS and ARE are both forms of which verb?
have
be
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of discerning

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing2

OTHER WORDS FROM discerning

dis·cern·ing·ly, adverbnon·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing, adjectiveun·dis·cern·ing·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

Words related to discerning

astute, insightful, knowledgeable, penetrating, perceptive, piercing, knowing, acute, bright, brilliant, clear-sighted, clever, critical, gnostic, ingenious, intelligent, judicious, percipient, perspicacious, sagacious

How to use discerning in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discerning

discerning
/ (dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ) /
adjective
having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

Derived forms of discerning

discerningly, adverb
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
FEEDBACK