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
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
Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
This one rose to near the top of my list — and my very discerning teenage son’s.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 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
Once the residence of sultans, this 17th-century landmark in Istanbul now invites discerning travelers to experience imperial grandeur infused with contemporary touches.
—Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 25 Oct. 2025
This one rose to near the top of my list — and my very discerning teenage son’s.
—Jared Kaufman, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discerning
Adjective
-
The military plays only an advisory role in the American system, giving input to the president’s deliberations but not otherwise independently adjudicating whether his or her decision is wise.—
Peter D. Feaver,
Foreign Affairs,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Kyle Dubas made a very wise move by signing Mantha, who fits in very nicely with this group and is playing high-level hockey.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And when his hospital finally reopened, in February of the following year, doctors began noticing unexpected changes.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
11 Nov. 2025
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He was parked at a self-service bay of a 24-hour car wash two officers pulled into the West Boise business, detained him and used a drug dog to search his vehicle after noticing his parked vehicle.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In the below interview, Lockhart dives further into differentiating the stories, connecting the dots with very specific references to both books set on Beechwood Island, and where the hope lies in her newest novel, now out in bookstores.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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By better understanding its environment, the robot can more effectively perceive and navigate the cluttered and complex interior of the reactor, avoiding obstacles and locating work areas.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The startup has built a unified real-time orchestration layer that manages all the different things the AI needs to do at once, such as listening, understanding what’s being said, deciding how to respond, checking databases, and delivering an answer.—
Beatrice Nolan,
Fortune,
5 Nov. 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
-
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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Oxford Forest Conservation Area Another popular South Island star-spotting area is the Oxford Forest Conservation Area, which was designated as a Dark Sky Park in 2024.—
Evie Carrick,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Nov. 2025
-
In Ocho Rios, the vast fringing reef shelf has drop-offs on the northern side perfect for spotting diverse soft and hard corals like staghorn, sea fan and brain coral.—
Adrienne Jordan,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Before that time many devices, ornaments and distinguishing marks followed one another as official marks of the Corps.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
7 Nov. 2025
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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
Verb
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Deputy Jaramillo’s legacy of integrity, compassion, and courage will continue to live on in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing and serving alongside him.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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Imagine me at lunch or dinner breaks on that movie, sitting between the two of them—Peyton and Bradley—knowing little to nothing about football.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discerning. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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