yvlog

Advertisement

Advertisement

View synonyms for

discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]

adjective

  1. showing good or outstanding judgment and understanding:

    a discerning critic of French poetry.

    Synonyms: , , ,



discerning

/ ɪˈɜːɪŋ /

adjective

  1. having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating
“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
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • 徱ˈԾԲ, adverb
Discover More

Other yvlog Forms

  • 徱·iԲ· adverb
  • ԴDzd·iԲ adjective
  • ܲd·iԲ adjective
  • un徱·iԲ· adverb
Discover More

yvlog History and Origins

Origin of discerning1

First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing 2
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Yes, we are living in the golden age of mayonnaise and those of us with discerning taste are lucky to bear witness to it.

From

“We emphasize the critical task of discerning between meaningful results and random fluctuations in the data.”

From

At 80, Gaines has eyes that are clear and discerning, his generous and direct demeanor giving away his decades-long experience as an educator.

From

But my fear is the corpse will be Gaitok, the sweet hotel worker who seems discerning and suspicious of the right people.

From

To watch “Santosh” is to feel the undeniable power of a discerning, resonant case study.

From

Advertisement

Related yvlogs

Discover More

More About Discerning

What doesdiscerning mean?

Discerning is an adjective that means able to discern—recognize small details, accurately tell the difference between similar things, and make intelligent judgements by using such observations.

Discerning is also the continuous (-ing) form of the verb discern. As an adjective, it can be used to describe someone who has the ability to discern or to describe such an ability.

The ability to do this or the process of doing it is called discernment, as in Only through careful discernment can you tell a genuine artifact from the work of a counterfeiter. Things that can be identified or distinguished in such a way can be described as discernible.

A close synonym of discerning is discriminating (not in the prejudicial sense).

Example: Most chefs have a very discerning sense of taste.

Where doesdiscerning come from?

The first records of discerning as an adjective come from the 1600s. It derives from the Latin discernere, meaning “to separate” or “to divide,” from dis-, meaning “apart,” and cernere, “to separate.”

To be discerning is to be able to tell things apart—to separate them, even when they appear to be very similar. People who are discerning are able to make keen observations about things. A person with a discerning palate may be able to discern flavors that others cannot. This ability is often associated with wisdom and experience. Being discerning also often involves making a judgment, especially about things that aren’t obvious. For example, it takes discernment to accurately judge someone’s character.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to discerning?

  • discerningly (adverb)
  • nondiscerning (adjective)
  • undiscerning (adjective)
  • undiscerningly (adverb)
  • discern (verb)

What are some synonyms for discerning?

What are some words that share a root or word element with discerning?

What are some words that often get used in discussing discerning?

How isdiscerning used in real life?

Discerning is a somewhat formal word and is typically used in serious contexts.

Try usingdiscerning!

Which of the following actions is NOT associated with someone who’s discerning?

A. differentiating
B. distinguishing
C. discriminating
D. ignoring

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement