discerning

adjective

dis·​cern·​ing di-ˈsər-niŋ How to pronounce discerning (audio)
: showing insight and understanding : discriminating
a discerning critic
discerningly adverb

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
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Los Angeles advisor Victoria Burns shares the sentiment, noting a sense of relief post-election and a more discerning market, where buyers are taking their time before making acquisitions. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 3 Dec. 2024 But for the more discerning shopper, watch for the Chromebook Plus branding mentioned earlier, which has to meet certain hardware requirements, such as a better CPU, at least 8GB of RAM, 128GB or more of storage, and a 1080p display and webcam. PCMAG, 1 Dec. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for discerning 

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of discern

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of discerning was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near discerning

Cite this Entry

“Discerning.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discerning. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

discerning

adjective
dis·​cern·​ing
: seeing and understanding clearly and intelligently
a discerning critic
discerningly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on discerning

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