discerning
adjective
dis·cern·ing
di-ˈsər-niŋ 
: showing insight and understanding : discriminating
a discerning critic
Synonyms
Examples of discerning in a Sentence
Why should a discerning writer concern himself with such movies as Troy, Alexander, or 300? The answer is that he is uniquely qualified to transmute such trash into illuminating visions of the culturally confused age in which we live.
—
G. W. Bowersock, New York Review of Books, 6 Nov. 2008
Many of FreshDirect's customers say they are using the service because food shopping in Manhattan can be agonizing. But the question is whether discerning food shoppers will trust it.
—Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2002
Who reads short stories? one is asked, and I like to think that they are read by men and women in the dentist's office, waiting to be called to the chair; they are read on transcontinental plane trips … they are read by discerning and well-informed men and women who seem to feel that narrative fiction can contribute to our understanding of one another and the sometimes bewildering world around us.
—John Cheever, The Story and Its Writer, 1987
She has a discerning eye for good art.
a discerning critic of modern art
G. W. Bowersock, New York Review of Books, 6 Nov. 2008
Many of FreshDirect's customers say they are using the service because food shopping in Manhattan can be agonizing. But the question is whether discerning food shoppers will trust it.
—Florence Fabricant, New York Times, 6 Nov. 2002
Who reads short stories? one is asked, and I like to think that they are read by men and women in the dentist's office, waiting to be called to the chair; they are read on transcontinental plane trips … they are read by discerning and well-informed men and women who seem to feel that narrative fiction can contribute to our understanding of one another and the sometimes bewildering world around us.
—John Cheever, The Story and Its Writer, 1987
She has a discerning eye for good art.
a discerning critic of modern art
Recent Examples on the Web
First, audiences are more discerning than ever, seeking out the deeper truths behind appearances and brand promises.
—Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Emmanuel Perrotin, of the eponymous mega-gallery with spaces in Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Los Angeles, told ARTnews that his team has been less discerning when deciding which works go to Frieze and which to Art Basel Paris.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Floating Diamond Three-Stone Pendant In Platinum This dazzling diamond necklace is sure to impress the most discerning gift recipient.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
That means giving the brand a cohesive identity and expression guides and, often, leveling up the appearance of the brand for a broader, more discerning audience.
—Anne-Marie Rosser, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discerning 
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.
Jeetendr Sehdev, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Emmanuel Perrotin, of the eponymous mega-gallery with spaces in Paris, Hong Kong, New York, Seoul, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Los Angeles, told ARTnews that his team has been less discerning when deciding which works go to Frieze and which to Art Basel Paris.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Floating Diamond Three-Stone Pendant In Platinum This dazzling diamond necklace is sure to impress the most discerning gift recipient.
—Kasey Caminiti, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
That means giving the brand a cohesive identity and expression guides and, often, leveling up the appearance of the brand for a broader, more discerning audience.
—Anne-Marie Rosser, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for discerning
Dictionary Entries Near discerning
Cite this Entry
“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discerning. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discerning
adjective
dis·cern·ing
: seeing and understanding clearly and intelligently
a discerning critic
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share