discreet

discreet

judicious in one’s conduct or speech; careful; circumspect; prudent; modest

Not to be confused with:

discrete – constituting a separate thing; distinct; different; individual; unconnected

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

dis·creet

 (dĭ-skrēt′)

adj.

1. Possessed of, exercising, or showing prudence and self-restraint in speech and behavior; circumspect: The teacher was discreet in discussing the student's behavior. We followed him but kept a discreet distance.

2. Made, done, or situated so as to attract little notice: made a discreet exit out the back door; lovers seeking a discreet place to meet.

---

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

---

dis·creet′ly adv.

dis·creet′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

discreet

(dɪˈskriːt)

adj

1. careful to avoid social embarrassment or distress, esp by keeping confidences secret; tactful

2. unobtrusive

[C14: from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discrētus, from Latin discernere to discern]

disˈcreetly adv

disˈcreetness n

Usage: Avoid confusion with discrete

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

dis•creet

(dɪˈskrit)

adj.

judicious in one's conduct or speech, esp. with regard to keeping silent about a delicate matter.

[1325–75; Middle English discret < Anglo-French, Old French < Medieval Latin discrētus, Latin: separated, past participle of discernere]

dis•creet′ly, adv.

dis•creet′ness, n.

syn: See careful.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	discreet - marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; "his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace" indiscreet - lacking discretion; injudicious; "her behavior was indiscreet at the very best"
	2.	discreet - unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic; "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence" discerning tactful - having or showing a sense of what is fitting and considerate in dealing with others; "she was tactful enough not to shatter his illusion"; "a tactful remark eased her embarrassment"
	3.	discreet - heedful of potential consequences; "circumspect actions"; "physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use"; "a discreet investor" circumspect prudent - careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; "a prudent manager"; "prudent rulers"; "prudent hesitation"; "more prudent to hide than to fight"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

discreet

adjective

1. tactful, diplomatic, politic, reserved, guarded, careful, sensible, cautious, wary, discerning, prudent, considerate, judicious, circumspect, sagacious He followed at a discreet distance.
tactful rash, unwise, indiscreet, unthinking, tactless, injudicious, incautious, undiplomatic

2. unobtrusive, modest, subtle, restrained, subdued, low-key, unassuming, unpretentious, inconspicuous, unnoticeable, unostentatious She is wearing discreet jewelery. see discrete

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

discreet

adjective

1. Showing sensitivity and skill in dealing with others:

delicate, diplomatic, politic, sensitive, tactful.

2. Kept within sensible limits:

conservative, moderate, reasonable, restrained, temperate.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

حَكيم، رَزين، حَذِر

diskrétnímlčenlivýrozvážný

diskret

diskretverschwiegenvorsichtig

διακριτικόςεχέμυθος

discreto

hienotunteinenhienovarainenhillittytahdikas

discretsage

diszkréttapintatostitoktartó

òagmælskur

discretodiscrezionalediscrezioneriservatodecente

diskretiškasdiskretiškumasnuožiūrataktiškumas

apdomīgsdiskrētspiesardzīgs

diskrétaktfull

ağzı sıkıölçülütemkinli

谨慎的

discreet

[dɪsˈkriːt] ADJ [person, inquiry, decor, uniform] → discreto
at a discreet distance → a una distancia prudencial

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

discreet

[dɪˈskriːt] adj

(= diplomatic) [person] → discret/ète; [remark] → discret/ète
She's making a few discreet inquiries → Elle enquête discrètement.
to be discreet about sth → être discret/ète à propos de qch
at a discreet distance → à une distance respectueuse

(= understated) [decor, appearance, place, jewellery] → discret/ète

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

discreet

adj → diskret; inquiry → diskret, taktvoll; account → taktvoll; elegance → unaufdringlich; jewellery, tie, dress, decoration → dezent; at a discreet distance → in einer diskreten Entfernung; to maintain a discreet presence → eine unauffällige Präsenz aufrechterhalten; to keep or maintain a discreet silence → diskret schweigen; to be discreet about something → etw diskret behandeln

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

discreet

[dɪsˈkriːt] adj → discreto/a

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

discreet

(diˈskriːt) adjective

wise, cautious and not saying anything which might cause trouble. My secretary won't let the secret out – she's very discreet. taktvol, diskreet حَكيم، رَزين، حَذِر благоразумен discreto diskrétní, rozvážný, mlčenlivý verschwiegen diskret διακριτικόςdiscreto taktitundeline محتاط؛ با ملاحظه hienotunteinen sageזהיר, דיסקרטי पृथक, विवेक diskretan diszkrét bijaksana, hati-hati þagmælskur discreto 思慮のある 지각 있는, 신중한 taktiškas, diskretiškas diskrēts; piesardzīgs; apdomīgs berhati-hati kiesdiskré, taktfull, fintfølendedyskretny محتاط، پوه، دبصيرت څښتن discreto discret благоразумный rozvážny previden, molčeč diskretan diskret สุขุมรอบคอบ temkinli, ölçülü, ağzı sıkı 謹慎的 стриманий, розсудливий محتاط، لائق اعتبار kín đáo 谨慎的

diˈscreetness noun

takt, oordeelkundigheid حَذَر، حَصافَه، رَزانَه благоразумност discrição taktnost, uvážlivost, mlčenlivost die Verschwiegenheit diskrethed διακριτικότηταdiscreción taktitundelisus احتیاط؛ ملاحظه hienotunteisuus discrétionזהירות, דיסקרטיות अलगाव diskrecija diszkréció kebijaksanaan þagmælska discrezione 慎重さ 신중함 taktiškumas, diskretiškumas diskrētums; piesardzība; apdomība kebijaksaan kiestaktfullhetdyskrecja احتیاط کول discrição discreţie благоразумие rozvážnosť previdnost diskretnost diskretion, finkänslighet ความสุขุมรอบคอบ ihtiyat, sır saklama, ağzı sıkılık 謹慎 стриманість; розсудливість سمجھ داری sự kín đáo 谨慎

diˈscretion (-ˈskre-) noun

1. discreetness. A secretary needs discretion and tact. takt, oordeelkundigheid تَعَقُّل، حَذَر، حَصافَه предпазливост discrição diskrétnost die Verschwiegenheit diskretion διακριτικότητα, σύνεσηdiscreción taktitunne احتیاط؛ دقت tahdikkuus discrétionזהירות, דיסקרטיות विवेक dikretnost diszkréció kebijaksanaan þagmælska discrezione 思慮分別 지각, 신중 taktas, diskretiškumas diskrētums kebijaksanaan kiesheiddiskresjon, taktfullhet, varsomhetdyskrecja احتیاط ځیر، discrição dis­cre­ţie благоразумие diskrétnosť obzirnost diskrecija diskretion ความรอบคอบ ihtiyat, dikkat, ağzı sıkılık 謹慎 обачність; обережність ہوشمندی tính thận trọng 谨慎

2. personal judgement. I leave the arrangements entirely to your discretion; The money will be distributed at the discretion of the management. oordeel حُرِّيَّةِ التَّصَرُّف лична преценка discrição úsudek (vlastní), uvážení das Gutdünken konduite προσωπική κρίση discreción oma äranägemine صلاح دید؛ اختیار harkinta sagesse, discrétion שִיקוּל דָעַת विवेकाधीन osobna procjena megítélés penilaian dómgreind, ákvörðunarvald discrezione 自由裁量 결정권 nuožiūra atstāt kaut ko kāda ziņā kebijaksanaan oordeel, oordeelkundigheidskjønnuznanie اختيار discrição discreţie усмотрение zváženie presoja po nahođenju omdöme, gottfinnande ความอิสระในการตัดสินใจ takdir edebilme yeteneği 判斷力 розсуд قوت فیصلہ sự suy xét 判断力

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

discreet

a. discreto-a, prudente.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012