DISCERNING
Dictionary entry overview: What does discerning mean?
• DISCERNING (adjective)
The adjective DISCERNING has 4 senses:
1. having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
2. unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic
3. quick to understand
4. able to make or detect effects of great subtlety; sensitive
Familiarity information: DISCERNING used as an adjective is uncommon.
Dictionary entry details
• DISCERNING (adjective)
Meaning:
Having or revealing keen insight and good judgment
Context examples:
a discerning critic / a discerning reader
Similar:
clear; percipient (characterized by ease and quickness in perceiving)
clear-eyed; clear-sighted; perspicacious (mentally acute or penetratingly discerning)
prescient (perceiving the significance of events before they occur)
Also:
critical (characterized by careful evaluation and judgment)
discriminating (showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste)
Antonym:
undiscerning (lacking discernment)
Meaning:
Unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic
Synonyms:
discerning; discreet
Context examples:
a discerning editor / a discreet silence
Similar:
tactful (having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others)
Meaning:
Quick to understand
Synonyms:
apprehensive; discerning
Context example:
a kind and apprehensive friend
Similar:
perceptive (having the ability to perceive or understand; keen in discernment)
Meaning:
Able to make or detect effects of great subtlety; sensitive
Context examples:
discerning taste / a discerning eye for color
Similar:
discriminating (showing or indicating careful judgment and discernment especially in matters of taste)
