discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]

/ dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr- /

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adjective

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

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of discerning

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing²

SYNONYMS FOR discerning

perceptive, keen, sharp, discriminating.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR discerning ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsdis·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for undiscerning

Though he may be not the best possible guide to the undiscerning, he will be better than no guide at all.
An Autobiography|Anthony Trollope
Spiritually they are undiscerning, because imaginatively they are blind.
The Soul of the Far East|Percival Lowell
Both as a clergyman, a Puritan, and an ejected minister, this undiscerning youth had looked down exceedingly upon his superior.
It Might Have Been|Emily Sarah Holt
He wrote plays which Garrick nearly liked, but which the undiscerning public never liked at all.
William Blake|Charles Gardner

Such were the flattering words which he poured into the undiscerning mind of Mr. Sharp at different times.
Talkers|John Bate

British Dictionary definitions for undiscerning

discerning

/ (dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ) /

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 undiscerning

discerning

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