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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of discerning
Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Savvy Mercury also entered Virgo on Sept. 2, polishing our communication while inspiring a more discerning approach to our exchanges and immediate surroundings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Wayne Chan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Schumacher Italy’s managing director Elisabetta Bono told WWD that creating relationships with interior designers and decorators is key to the brand’s success in a discerning design community like Milan.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Adjective
Because contemporary phantoms of Richard Mille, Patek Philippe, and Rolex are expertly constructed to entice even the most discerning eye, provenance is crucial.
—Connie Etemadi, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Savvy Mercury also entered Virgo on Sept. 2, polishing our communication while inspiring a more discerning approach to our exchanges and immediate surroundings.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
But the real challenge was discerning which parts of each course were meant to be eaten and which were just part of the presentation.
—Wayne Chan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Oct. 2025
Schumacher Italy’s managing director Elisabetta Bono told WWD that creating relationships with interior designers and decorators is key to the brand’s success in a discerning design community like Milan.
—Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discerning
Adjective
-
Given the nature of debate around the use of AI in production, the note seems a wise one.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
-
This wise, gentle character had been inhabited and portrayed by such eminent people.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Harvey brings a distinctive approach to the nuclear narrative, one shaped by childhood memories of hearing about French President Jacques Chirac and the Rainbow Warrior bombing, but noticing the absence of First Nations voices in those stories.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
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Humans are inherently quite good at noticing changes in other people’s expressions.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He was credited with elevating the revenues, profits and image of Macy’s West, successfully differentiating it from regional department store competitors, and evolving Macy’s private labels into private brands, with in-store shops, professional sales associates and full-price marketing.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
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Others echoed that sentiment while differentiating human creativity from automation.—
Callum McLennan,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Without understanding what her body is undergoing, Pagli dies alone in labor.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
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Redditors in the comment section were appreciative of the woman’s lighthearted attitude about the mix-up and praised her for being understanding.—
Emily Rella,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The prudent way forward ought then to be to read today’s many swirling war stories with greater acuity—or even to learn how to write an altogether different story.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
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This aligns with research showing that rural social identity predicts skepticism of external experts, illustrating a rural orientation toward prudent distrust.—
Scott R. Schell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Between the timing and Elsbeth spotting a shiny, brand-new replacement for Johnny’s beat-up old harness and carabiner, the jig is up, giving Elsbeth a moment to shine on the set of Raquel’s Behind the Black Veil interview, prosecuting her case in the persona of a reality-show host.—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The robot is also capable of spotting the charging spot perfectly in electric vehicles.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
People would devote entire dissertations to developing techniques for distinguishing handwritten digits or for recognizing faces in images; then a deep-learning algorithm would digest the underlying data, discover the subtleties of the problem, and make those projects seem obsolete.—
James Somers,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
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As America’s capital of both wine production and pleasant weather, California has any number of towns that capture this experience, each with distinguishing characteristics that suit different types of travelers.—
Justin Goldman,
AFAR Media,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Wagner apologizes, knowing that his relationship with his baby, who is now 27 years old, is too important to throw away by being overprotective of her (or of his work-daughter Kaya).—
Sophie Brookover,
Vulture,
31 Oct. 2025
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Catering horror to a younger demographic is all about knowing where to draw the line.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA Today,
31 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discerning. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.
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