as in wise
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge
a discerning critic of modern art
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in noticing
to make note of (something) through the use of one's eyes
barely able to discern the garden gate through the mist
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in differentiating
to understand or point out the difference in
too young to discern between right and wrong
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in understanding
to have a clear idea of
we're still trying to discern the meaning of that cryptic remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of discerning
Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
More Magnificent Seven earnings are coming next week, helping to decide the direction of a stock market that's becoming more discerning, while the latest data on the labor market will cast light on the state of the economy.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
And, best of all, each of the four scratch different itches for discerning ice cream fans.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Adjective
The costs, the drama, the precision, all of it needs to be at an even higher expression than usual, and that’s precisely why the most discerning luxury brands are so keen to align themselves with Snow Polo—Robb Report was a media partner.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
More Magnificent Seven earnings are coming next week, helping to decide the direction of a stock market that's becoming more discerning, while the latest data on the labor market will cast light on the state of the economy.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Setto’s customers are discerning—often on the hunt for pure selvedge denim, the kind that emphasizes durability, visible craftsmanship, and tradition over newer stretch or comfort blends.
—Jessica Binns, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026
And, best of all, each of the four scratch different itches for discerning ice cream fans.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discerning
Adjective
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Straight men are just catching up, vanity-wise, and political opportunists have eagerly fed into their insecurities.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
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The obvious comparison would be Lily Allen’s West End Girl, another heartbreak concept album that captured the public imagination by aiming big, narrative-wise, stretching out the story song by song.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Writers Raoul Groothuizen and Christina Poppe came up with the idea back in 2018, after noticing a sharp rise in racist rhetoric among the Flemish far-right.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
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Scientists had long assumed most of the moon lay beyond the protection of Earth’s magnetic field, but in 2019 scientists began noticing something odd about the experiment’s data that suggested the moon was somewhat protected from galactic cosmic rays.—
K. R. Callaway,
Scientific American,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Anonymity will continue to be Reddit’s differentiating factor.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
26 Mar. 2026
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Or, at least, differentiating that the sandwiches Wawa and other convenience stores and delis in the area sell are in fact called hoagies.—
Kaitlyn McCormick,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Vera Rubin, an astronomer whose observations of galaxy rotation curves in the 1970s provided the first robust evidence for dark matter's existence, embraced her Jewish faith as a guide to understanding her role in the universe.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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Preparation means understanding your client’s business, their operational needs, and their financial guardrails.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In regular times, these could be seen as prudent security measures for high-profile flyers or simply good customer service for some of the airlines’ best customers.—
Patricia Murphy,
AJC.com,
24 Mar. 2026
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Prudent warning Adam Dean, a political scientist who researches labor conditions at the George Washington University and has studied California’s heat illness regulations, said issuing the advisory was a prudent move because an off-season heat event can be more dangerous.—
Joe Rubin,
Sacbee.com,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even kids who haven’t seen the show will be captivated walking the City Walls and spotting Fort Lovrijenac.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 Mar. 2026
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As one sales agent noted to IndieWire’s Brian Welk last fall, the upside for these companies lies in spotting opportunities before others do.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The criterion of self-consciousness, meanwhile, is of no use for the practical task of distinguishing between human and nonhuman digital activity.—
Andrey Mir,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
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Per Alström, a researcher involved in the study, described the challenge of distinguishing the two species by conventional means.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
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It can only be imparted by the example of a wise craftsman in the midst of practicing their craft—knowing exactly how much pressure to apply at what moment, knowing when to press forward and when to hold back.—
David Brooks,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Probst also notes the necessity of continually evolving game design, creating unexpected twists and advantages to keep players on edge and never knowing whom to trust.—
Pamela Chelin,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discerning. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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