'Discreet' definitions:
Definition of 'discreet'
From: WordNet
adjective
Marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint; "his trusted discreet aide"; "a discreet, finely wrought gold necklace" [ant: indiscreet]
adjective
Unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic; "a discerning editor"; "a discreet silence" [syn: discerning, discreet]
adjective
Heedful of potential consequences; "circumspect actions"; "physicians are now more circumspect about recommending its use"; "a discreet investor" [syn: circumspect, discreet]
Definition of 'Discreet'
From: GCIDE
- Discreet \Dis*creet"\, a. [Compar. Discreeter; superl. Discreetest.] [F. discret, L. discretus separated (whence the meaning reserved, prudent), p. p. of discernere. See Discern, and cf. Discrete.]
- 1. Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious. [1913 Webster]
- It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
- Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet. --Pope. [1913 Webster]
- The sea is silent, the sea is discreet. --Longfellow. [1913 Webster]
- 2. Differing; distinct. [Obs.] --Spenser. -- {Dis*creet"ly}, adv. -- {Dis*creet"ness}, n. Discrepance
Synonyms of 'discreet'
From: Moby Thesaurus
- aloof,
- backward,
- bashful,
- blank,
- calculating,
- canny,
- careful,
- cautious,
- chary,
- chilled,
- chilly,
- circumspect,
- close,
- closemouthed,
- cold,
- considerate,
- constrained,
- controlled,
- cool,
- dark,
- deliberate,
- detached,
- diplomatic,
- discriminating,
- discriminative,
- distant,
- dry,
- enlightened,
- evasive,
- expressionless,
- forbidding,
- frigid,
- frosty,
- gingerly,
- guarded,
- heedful,
- hesitant,
- icy,
- impassive,
- impersonal,
- inaccessible,
- introverted,
- judgmatic,
- judicial,
- judicious,
- leaving out nothing,
- mindful,
- moderate,
- modest,
- noncommittal,
- offish,
- Olympian,
- on guard,
- overlooking no possibility,
- pawky,
- politic,
- provident,
- prudent,
- prudential,
- reasonable,
- reflecting,
- reflective,
- regardful,
- remote,
- removed,
- repressed,
- reserved,
- restrained,
- reticent,
- retiring,
- safe,
- secret,
- secretive,
- shifty,
- shrinking,
- simple,
- slow to act,
- standoff,
- standoffish,
- subdued,
- suppressed,
- tactful,
- temperate,
- tentative,
- thorough,
- thoughtful,
- unadorned,
- unadventurous,
- unaffable,
- unapproachable,
- uncommunicative,
- uncongenial,
- undaring,
- undemonstrative,
- unelaborate,
- unenterprising,
- unexcessive,
- unexpansive,
- unextreme,
- ungenial,
- unostentatious,
- unprecipitate,
- unpretentious,
- wary,
- watchful,
- well-advised,
- well-judged,
- withdrawn