discreetly

adverb

dis·​creet·​ly

: in a discreet manner: such as

a

: tactfully, prudently

his utterances never gave offense, being discreetly academic

b

: with restraint : judiciously, carefully, unobtrusively

rouge discreetly applied to the cheek

—Edward Sapir

do not let a canary's claws grow too long … but trim them discreetly

—Emily Holt

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discretly, from discret, discreet + -ly

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

1. Expanded definitions
2. Detailed etymologies
3. Advanced search tools
4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Rhymes for discreetly

• completely
• concretely
• discretely
• incompletely
• neatly
• sweetly