discerning

[ dih-sur-ning, -zur- ]
See synonyms for: discerningdiscerningly on Thesaurus.com

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

Origin of discerning

1
First recorded in 1600–10; discern + -ing2

Other words for discerning

Other words from discerning

  • dis·cern·ing·ly, adverb
  • non·dis·cern·ing, adjective
  • un·dis·cern·ing, adjective
  • un·dis·cern·ing·ly, adverb

Words Nearby discerning

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use discerning in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for discerning

discerning

/ (dɪˈsɜːnɪŋ) /


adjective
  1. having or showing good taste or judgment; discriminating

Derived forms of discerning

  • discerningly, 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