discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]

/ dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /

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See synonyms for: discerning / discerningly on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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

OTHER WORDS FOR discerning

perceptive, keen, sharp, discriminating.

See synonyms for discerning on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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. 2023

How to use discerning in a sentence

Lovingly, tenderly, discerningly, marveling and absorbed and deeply fascinated I looked at Me in the mirror.
I, Mary MacLane|Mary MacLane
In the wise old days when men outshone their consorts, we find their hearts set discerningly on one supreme extravagance.
Americans and Others|Agnes Repplier
Few have read more discerningly or have voiced their findings more brilliantly.
A History of American Literature Since 1870|Fred Lewis Pattee
Gutzkow alone, about the year 1835, begins to criticise him discerningly.
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young Germany|Georg Brandes

Here his large eyes looked discerningly through the spectacles.
Felix Holt, The Radical|George Eliot

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

discerning

OTHER WORDS FOR discerning

Origin of discerning

OTHER WORDS FROM discerning

Words related to discerning

How to use discerning in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discerning

Derived forms of discerning