discreet
Americanadjective
-
judicious in one's conduct or speech, especially with regard to respecting privacy or maintaining silence about something of a delicate nature; prudent; circumspect.
- Antonyms:
- indiscreet
-
showing prudence and circumspection; decorous.
a discreet silence.
-
modestly unobtrusive; unostentatious.
a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace.
adjective
-
careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful
-
unobtrusive
Usage
What’s the difference between discreet and discrete? Discreet most commonly means tactful, prudent, or careful to avoid revealing things that may cause embarrassment, such as when communicating sensitive information, as in a discreet message or You can tell her, but be discreet about it. Discrete means separate or distinct, as in discrete concepts or discrete parts.Less commonly, discreet can also mean unobtrusive—a modest necklace may be described as discreet. In all cases, the word discreet is used in situations in which an effort is made to avoid calling attention to someone or something. When you’re being discreet, you’re showing discretion.Discrete, on the other hand, is typically used in technical, non-personal contexts. It has more specific meanings in the context of math and statistics.Here’s a fun way to remember the difference: in discreet, the two e’s are right next to each other—the one e looks like it’s discreetly whispering something in the other’s ear. In discrete, the two e’s are kept separate by the t in the middle.Here’s an example of discreet and discrete used correctly in a sentence.Example: He mistakenly thought the two parts were discrete, but I told him that they are in fact connected—in a discreet way, of course.Want to learn more? Read the full breakdown of the difference between discreet and discrete.
Commonly Confused
See discrete
Related Words
See careful.
Other Word Forms
- discreetly adverb
- discreetness noun
- overdiscreet adjective
- overdiscreetness noun
- quasi-discreet adjective
Etymology
Origin of discreet
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English discret, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Medieval Latin discrētus, Latin: “separated,” past participle of discernere “to separate,” from dis- dis- 1 + cernere “to decide, separate, sift”; discern
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
If leaving without a goodbye could cause confusion or concern, a discreet farewell—whether whispered to the host or sent via text—strikes the perfect balance between tradition and modern convenience.
Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of late Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei who has been appointed as the new head of the Islamic republic, is a discreet figure who offers continuity of his father's hardline leadership.
From Barron's
“So much for a discreet exit,” he hissed in my ear.
From Literature
Finally, I allowed myself a discreet peek over my shoulder.
For most of my early career, I believed respect came from being polished, discreet and tightly self-edited, if a little dull.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
