discreetness

noun

as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters I appreciated her discreetness in keeping quiet about my inability to pay for our date

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of discreetness No one should underestimate the mortal significance of medical discreetness; researchers are well aware that many patients risk their own health due to the stigma associated with requiring medical help. — New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discreetness
  1. prudence
  2. sense
  3. wisdom
  4. discretion
  5. wit
Noun
  • Short-term rates went to 5% and change, Treasury bills paid more than investment grade corporates, and savers who had spent fifteen years being punished for prudence suddenly got paid handsomely for doing nothing.
    — Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • In those conditions, United’s prudence makes financial sense.
    — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of prudence
Noun
  • In that sense, hitting one in his second career at-bat, which was sandwiched by two strikeouts, was fitting.
    — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Combining unexpected items can make a lot of sense and save precious space in your backpack.
    — Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • The higher standards down the pecking order can help keep the brightest talent in the game for longer, with the next generation benefitting from that wisdom.
    — Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
  • At the beginning of the 20th century, the prevailing wisdom about raising children could be remarkably grim.
    — Andrew Silow-Carroll, Sun Sentinel, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of wisdom
Noun
  • Is flexibility written policy or manager discretion, because those two behave very differently the week somebody has a stroke.
    — Jasmine Browley, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Under federal law, states have little discretion to reject extradition requests from fellow states.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of discretion
Noun
  • Strength, teamwork and wit will be put to the test as competitors dodge orcas in Antarctica and swim with sharks in Chile.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • And for us, that meant falling in love with her music and laughing at her wit along the way.
    — Corey duBrowa, Fortune, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of wit

Browse Nearby Words

discreetly
discreetness
discrepancy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discreetness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discreetness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All