What does discerning mean?

Definitions for discerning
dɪˈsɜr nɪŋ, -ˈzɜr-dis·cern·ing

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word discerning.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. discerningadjective

    having or revealing keen insight and good judgment

    "a discerning critic"; "a discerning reader"

  2. discerning, discreetadjective

    unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic

    "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence"

  3. apprehensive, discerningadjective

    quick to understand

    "a kind and apprehensive friend"- Nathaniel Hawthorne

  4. discerningadjective

    able to make or detect effects of great subtlety; sensitive

    "discerning taste"; "a discerning eye for color"

Wiktionary

  1. discerningadjective

    Of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. Discerningparticipial adj.

    Judicious; knowing.

    Etymology: from discern.

    This hath been maintained not only by warm enthusiasts, but by cooler and more discerning heads. Francis Atterbury, Sermons.

ChatGPT

  1. discerning

    Discerning refers to the ability to judge or understand something accurately and wisely, often by perceiving or recognizing subtle distinctions or differences. It entails showing good judgment, insight, or keen perception in recognizing the quality or truth of something.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Discerning

    of Discern

  2. Discerningadjective

    acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted

Wikidata

  1. Discerning

    Showing good judgment and understanding.

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of discerning in Chaldean Numerology is: 5

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of discerning in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of discerning in a Sentence

  1. Sanita Belgrave:

    When discerning the authenticity of someone’s character, listen to everything they aren’t saying.

  2. Melissa Gugni:

    Be discerning, remove duplicates, blurry photos, photos that have people in them that you can’t recognize and, most importantly, boring photos.

  3. Laozi:

    He who knows other men is discerning; he who knows himself is intelligent...

  4. Christen Kuikoua:

    Shining doesn't always signify gold; sometimes, real gold shines less, while fake gold dazzles with false allure. A common man may blindly choose the fake because of its surface brilliance, forsaking the authentic. However, a discerning man, knowing what he truly seeks, prioritizes quality over mere appeal, recognizing that substance holds greater value than superficial glamour.

  5. Benjamin W. Decker:

    In Matthew 7:20 (KJV), we are taught a profound secret for discerning of the Spirit: Where-fore by their fruits ye shall know them. This means that we look to the health of the part (the fruit) to gauge the health of the whole. A healthy tree will bear good fruit; an unhealthy tree will bear low-quality fruit.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

discerning#10000#24948#100000

Translations for discerning

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"discerning." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2025. Web. 18 Feb. 2025. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/discerning>.

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