discriminating

[ dih-skrim-uh-ney-ting ]

adjective

1. able to distinguish differences or distinctions; differentiating; analytic.
2. noting differences or distinctions with nicety; discerning; perspicacious:

   a discriminating interpreter of events.

3. having excellent taste or judgment:

   a discriminating interior designer.

4. differential, as a tariff.
5. possessing distinctive features; capable of being differentiated; discriminative.

discriminating

/ dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ /

adjective

1. able to see fine distinctions and differences
2. discerning in matters of taste
3. (of a tariff, import duty, etc) levied at differential rates in order to favour or discourage imports or exports

Derived Forms

• disˈcrimiˌnatingly, adverb

Other Words From

• dis·crimi·nating·ly adverb
• half-dis·crimi·nating adjective
• half-dis·crimi·nating·ly adverb
• nondis·crimi·nating adjective
• nondis·crimi·nating·ly adverb
• over·dis·crimi·nating adjective
• over·dis·crimi·nating·ly adverb
• quasi-dis·crimi·nating adjective
• quasi-dis·crimi·nating·ly adverb
• undis·crimi·nating adjective
• undis·crimi·nating·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of discriminating¹

First recorded in 1640–50; discriminat(e) + -ing ²

Example Sentences

We are committed to living out non-discriminating love in our lives, worship, study and service.

From Washington Blade

So it’s going to be some discriminating process that determines who gets what.

From Freakonomics

Incredible as it may seem after viewing his stash, Flores is a discriminating, finicky connoisseur who rejects most of what he comes across in his never-ending quest.

From Washington Post

Humans in the eastern United States can argue endlessly about whether the Brood X cicadas are grotesque or magical, but dogs aren’t nearly so discriminating.

From Washington Post

It becomes a system which does the discriminating on behalf of the powerful majority.

From The Daily Beast

Further, the spokesperson denied that the bank had any policy discriminating against employees in the adult industry.

From The Daily Beast

In 2007, Roberts wrote: “The way to stop discrimination on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

From The Daily Beast

The Boy Scouts of America does not mess around when it comes to discriminating against gay adults.

From The Daily Beast

Likewise, groups like Tea Party Express are being much more discriminating in their choice of champions, says Budowich.

From The Daily Beast

This was promptly given up as regards women in the policy of discriminating between chaste and unchaste.

From Project Gutenberg

He has secured an exquisite emphasis by a discriminating subdual of subordinate ideas.

From Project Gutenberg

The nice and discriminating refinements in the use of words are learned by careful reading.

From Project Gutenberg

And this mastery he evinces in a finely discriminating choice of words.

From Project Gutenberg

His perception was quick, keen, and discriminating, especially where character was concerned.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• astute
• choosy
• discerning
• eclectic
• fastidious
• finicky
• fussy
• refined
• selective