discerning

[dih-sur-ning, -zur-]

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adjective

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

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

Synonyms for discerning

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perceptive, keen, sharp, discriminating.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for discerningly

reasonably, rationally, logically, shrewdly, wisely, brilliantly, judiciously, skillfully, prudently, sensibly, carefully, intelligently, sagely, knowingly, sharply, alertly, aptly, astutely, capably, discerningly

Examples from the Web for discerningly

Historical Examples of discerningly

They dread to grant distinctions, and to judge of us discerningly is beyond them.
Diana of the Crossways, Complete
George Meredith
Lovingly, tenderly, discerningly, marveling and absorbed and deeply fascinated I looked at Me in the mirror.
I, Mary MacLane
Mary MacLane
Gutzkow alone, about the year 1835, begins to criticise him discerningly.
Main Currents in Nineteenth Century Literature - 6. Young Germany
Georg Brandes

British Dictionary definitions for discerningly

discerning

adjective

having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

Derived Formsdiscerningly, 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

Word Origin and History for discerningly

discerning

"action of perceiving," late 14c., verbal noun from discern. As a present participle adjective, attested from c.1600.