Discreetness — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /di-ˈskrēt/ dis·creet

Meaning & Definition of Discreetness

Discreetness (adjective)

  1. having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech, prudent; especially, cautious and restrained (as in revealing information)
  2. unobtrusive, unnoticeable
  3. unpretentious, modest

Discreetness (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters

    "I appreciated her discreetness in keeping quiet about my inability to pay for our date"

    similar: common sense, discretion, gumption (chiefly dialect), horse sense, levelheadedness, nous (chiefly British), policy, prudence, sense, sensibleness, wisdom, wit
    related: street smarts, farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment, brains, gray matter, intelligence, logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness, discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience, acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness, care, caution, circumspection, precaution, premeditation
    opposite: imprudence, indiscretion
    near: shortsightedness, brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity, carelessness, heedlessness, unreasonableness

Related Entry: Discreet (adjective)

Discreet is a different word from Discreetness. The synonyms below are for discreet, not for discreetness.

  1. having or showing good judgment and restraint especially in conduct or speech

    "he was very discreet, only saying what was necessary"

    similar: intelligent, judgmatic, judicious, prudent
    related: cautious, chary, circumspect, cozy, forehanded, foresighted, foresightful, forethoughtful, discerning, discriminating, sage, sane, sapient, senseful, sensible, wise, canny, provident, astute, perspicacious, sagacious, shrewd
    opposite: imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious
    near: careless, heedless, incautious, rash, improvident, shortsighted, foolish, unwise

  2. not readily seen or noticed

    "with a discreet gesture, she signalled to her husband that she was ready to leave the party"

    similar: inconspicuous, invisible, unnoticeable, unobtrusive
    related: unnoticed, unremarked, unseen, impalpable, imperceptible, inappreciable, indistinguishable, insensible, faint, indistinct, obscure, concealed, hidden
    opposite: conspicuous, noticeable, visible
    near: arresting, eye-catching, showy, striking, flashy, loud, noisy, apparent, clear, discernible, distinct, evident, manifest, obvious, patent, plain, prominent, unmistakable, blatant, flagrant, glaring, gross, screaming

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Discreetness

The most common words with a similar meaning to Discreetness:

Chiefly dialect: gumption
Chiefly British: nous
common sense, discretion, horse sense, levelheadedness, policy, prudence, sense, sensibleness, wisdom, wit

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Discreetness

Words with the opposite meaning of Discreetness:

imprudence, indiscretion

Related Words for Discreetness

street smarts, farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment, brains, gray matter, intelligence, logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness, discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience, acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness, care, caution, circumspection

Near Antonyms of Discreetness

shortsightedness, brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity, carelessness, heedlessness, unreasonableness

Word Forms of Discreetness

Derived words: discreetly (adverb), discreetness (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Discreetness

Middle English discrete, discret, discreet "morally discerning, prudent, separate, distinct," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French discret, borrowed from Medieval Latin discrētus "separate, distinct, showing discernment, prudent," going back to Latin, "separated, differentiated," from past participle of discernere "to separate, distinguish" discern

First known use: 14th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Discreetness

What does "Discreetness" mean?

"Discreetness" means having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech, prudent; especially, cautious and restrained (as in revealing information). As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech, prudent; especially, cautious and restrained (as in revealing information).

What is another word for "Discreetness"?

Other words for "Discreetness" include common sense, discretion, gumption, horse sense, levelheadedness, nous, policy and prudence. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Discreetness" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Discreetness"?

There are 44 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Discreetness". Common alternatives include common sense, discretion, gumption, horse sense, levelheadedness, nous, policy, prudence, sense and sensibleness.

What is the opposite of "Discreetness"?

Antonyms of "Discreetness" include imprudence and indiscretion. Near antonyms include shortsightedness, brainlessness, foolishness and half-wittedness.

How do you use "Discreetness" in a sentence?

Examples of "Discreetness" in a sentence: "I appreciated her discreetness in keeping quiet about my inability to pay for our date".

Is "Discreetness" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Discreetness" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Discreetness"?

"Discreetness" is pronounced /di-ˈskrēt/ and divided into syllables as dis·creet.

What is the origin of the word "Discreetness"?

"Discreetness" comes from Middle English discrete, discret, discreet "morally discerning, prudent, separate, distinct," borrowed from Anglo-French & Medieval Latin; Anglo-French discret, borrowed from Medieval Latin discrētus "separate, distinct, showing discernment, prudent," going back to Latin, "separated, differentiated," from past participle of discernere "to separate, distinguish" discern. First known use: 14th century.