discreet

(dĭ-skrēt')
adj.

1. Marked by, exercising, or showing prudence and wise self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect.
2. Free from ostentation or pretension; modest.

[Middle English, from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin, past participle of discernere, to separate, discern. See discern.]

discreetly dis·creet'ly adv.
discreetness dis·creet'ness n.

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have the same origin in the Latin verb discernere meaning 'to sift', but their meanings are very different. Discreet means 'circumspect in speech or action', can be used of people or things, and is common as an adverb discreetly:

A public telephone stood in one corner of the discreetly lit foyer—R. Busby, 1971

I noticed a few discreet establishments that looked as unauthentic, or as authentic according to your viewpoint, as New York's massage parlours—Times, 1972.

Discrete means 'distinct, separate':

It's a single flowing movement of eight discrete monumental pieces in steel...created by the American sculptor Richard Serra—Times, 2005.

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adjective

1. Showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others: delicate, diplomatic, politic, sensitive, tactful. See ability/inability.
2. Kept within sensible limits: conservative, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate. See plain/fancy, restraint/unrestraint.

adj

Definition: cautious, sensible
Antonyms: careless, foolish, incautious, indiscreet, rash, reckless, thoughtless, uncareful, undiscerning

IN BRIEF: To be prudent.

The woman was discreet in expressing her opinions about her son's marriage.

Tutor's tip: It would not be "discreet" (to show tact or reserve) to try to join "discrete" (consisting of unconnected or distinct parts) and competitive departments.

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For a list of words related to discreet, see:

• Introverted, Reserved, Isolated, or Mysterious
• Proper, Courteous, Refined, or Puritanical

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See words rhyming with "discreet."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Discreet.

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - diskret, taktfuld

Nederlands (Dutch)
discreet, bescheiden

Français (French)
adj. - discret, sobre, plein de tact

Deutsch (German)
adj. - diskret, taktvoll, umsichtig

Ελληνική (Greek)
adj. - διακριτικός, που δείχνει τακτ, συνετός, νουνεχής

Italiano (Italian)
discreto

Português (Portuguese)
adj. - discreto

Русский (Russian)
осмотрительный, благоразумный

Español (Spanish)
adj. - discreto, circunspecto

Svenska (Swedish)
adj. - taktfull, försiktig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
小心的, 朴素的, 慎重的

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 小心的, 樸素的, 慎重的

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 사리 분별 있는, (언어 등이) 조심스러운

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 分別のある, 慎重な

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(صفه) كتوم, حكيم, حذر, عاقل‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮זהיר, מוצנע, טקטי, דיסקרטי‬

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