discretion

noun

di-ˈskre-shən How to pronounce discretion (audio)
Definition of discretionnext
1
as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters we'll rely on your discretion in handling this accusation of cheating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in option
the power, right, or opportunity to choose ambassadorships are generally regarded as subject to the president's discretion

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in restraint
the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others in that job you'll be expected to show discretion and act like a professional at all times

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 discretion That approach, known as enforcement discretion, allows the FDA to selectively choose to not enforce some of its own regulations. — ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026 Our agency, whose staff was overwhelmingly female, decided, with admirable discretion, that the assignment should go to a man. — Bob Brody, Chicago Tribune, 13 Oct. 2026 Meanwhile, it also might be surmised that the discretion has been out of respect for Simmons, who still is just 23 years old and whose pace of return ultimately is his story to tell. — Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026 Accessible only to tribal members, the gates are maintained at the discretion of CBP. — Ryan Devereaux, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for discretion
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discretion
  1. prudence
  2. option
  3. restraint
  4. wisdom
  5. choice
  6. discipline
  7. sense
  8. preference
Noun
  • Notably, Marvell built some prudence into that spending guide, assuming the current rate of capex growth will moderate over the forecast period and move closer to historical levels in the out-years.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That might well be a sign of prudence on the part of fashion brands, which have been trying to boost full-price sales by not over-ordering inventory.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of prudence
Noun
  • The Air Force wants CCAs to increase the number of aircraft available for a mission while giving pilots additional sensing, targeting, and engagement options.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • In exchange, users are given a smaller pool of options in place of endless swiping.
    — Sneha Dhandapani, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of option
Noun
  • Having dressed numerous actresses throughout her career, Chiuri sees a shift in red carpet culture toward individualized creations and, more recently, greater restraint.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In an era when high-performance vehicles often grow larger, heavier, and more complex with each successive generation, part of the Carrera T’s appeal lies in its restraint.
    — Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of restraint
Noun
  • Wherever fear has replaced curiosity, wherever people have stopped listening, wherever power has outrun wisdom.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Somehow, the book is compact enough to fit into a bag, easy to dip into and draw from Le Guin’s wellspring of wisdoms.
    — Diana Arterian, Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of wisdom
Noun
  • As private longing collides with honor and social codes, each character has to reckon with what their choices cost.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The choices are housed in the Atelier Vivier MTO cabinet, a silver console containing the available materials and hardware, while a digital component allows clients to visualize combinations before production begins.
    — Thomas Waller, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of choice
Noun
  • With artists from across disciplines bringing traditional forms into dialogue with new media, the selection showcases a new wave of cross-disciplinary experimentation.
    — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Open Air connects fragrance with disciplines ranging from food, music, fashion, design and nightlife to spirituality and social service.
    — Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of discipline
Noun
  • Investors should also look at a fund's 30-day SEC yield to get a sense of what the company is generating in terms of income.
    — Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Government buildings were vandalized in multiple cities, contributing to a sense of national crisis that could boost leading far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen six months before elections.
    — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of sense
Noun
  • And limiting the ongoing growth in average EV battery capacity—driven by preferences for longer range and larger vehicles—could reduce demand by another 23 percent compared to the current trend.
    — Scott K. Johnson, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
  • But Strategy’s latest purchase shows the company is continuing to build its holdings despite the market’s swings, in line with executive chairman Michael Saylor’s long-standing preference for holding Bitcoin.
    — Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of preference

Browse Nearby Words

discreteness
discretion
discretionary
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Discretion.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discretion. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
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
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All