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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of discerning
Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
Other groups hold a more discerning view of the nation’s economic prosperity.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
Rolls-Royce has just unveiled Project Nightingale – its second electric car after the Spectre, which the company is building to order for discerning customers who enjoy driving with the top down.
—New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Adjective
Visually, to the more discerning fans, the new cars are smaller, lighter, and more agile.
—Brad Spurgeon, Robb Report, 9 Mar. 2026
Other groups hold a more discerning view of the nation’s economic prosperity.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
That helps me, because journalists are very discerning and skeptical at their core.
—Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 16 Apr. 2026
Rolls-Royce has just unveiled Project Nightingale – its second electric car after the Spectre, which the company is building to order for discerning customers who enjoy driving with the top down.
—New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for discerning
Recent Examples of Synonyms for discerning
Adjective
-
Policymakers, especially here in Tokyo, would be wise to accept more foreign workers to plug labor gaps, but that’s not a durable answer on its own.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Steinberg believes the fit will work out well football wise and business wise.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
January 20 – February 18 Your voice stands out today, and people are noticing.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
Aquarius January 20 – February 18 Your voice stands out today, and people are noticing.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Mexican eatery splits its menu into three, differentiating between meat dishes, vegetarian items and vegan dishes to avoid any potential confusion.—
Sean Timberlake,
Sacbee.com,
22 Apr. 2026
-
In a joint report documenting a meeting between counsel for the two parties entered in the case filing, Coastal Caviar further outlined their position, differentiating themselves from Lagos's Caviar brand.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Signs of a stroke can be identified by sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm, or leg; sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or difficulty understanding speech; issues with eyesight; loss of balance, dizziness, and difficulty walking; and severe headache with no identifiable cause.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
This diversity has huge implications for understanding galactic evolution.—
Paul Sutter,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
And that’s allowing Fed policymakers to be prudent, waiting on the sidelines to see everything play out before making a call to raise or lower rates, as several of them have said in recent public speeches, particularly the officials who dissented this week.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Trading back removed a lot of drama, but was the prudent way to go.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Overhead watering may cause flowers to droop or spotting on petals; certain species are more subject to disease if watered from above.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The drones are designed to perform autonomously or via remote control while doing such things as stalking submarines, spotting mines and serving as advance scouts for aircraft carriers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The second distinguishing feature of liveblogs is their tone of voice, which is often dialogic in nature.—
Daniel Jackson,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Technology enables simultaneous production of hydrogen The team also pointed out that this technology enables the simultaneous production of hydrogen and chemical feedstocks such as formate, distinguishing it from conventional water electrolysis processes that produce only hydrogen.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Watching the trajectory of the baseball and knowing Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill’s ability to rob would-be homers — plus the uncertainty of how well balls fly during night games at Petco Park — Crow-Armstrong figured Merrill would come down with the baseball.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Apr. 2026
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And there’s judgment — knowing when to act, when to wait, and what action actually fits the situation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/discerning. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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