1
: having or showing discernment or good judgment in conduct and especially in speech : prudent
especially
: capable of preserving prudent silence
2
: unpretentious, modest
the warmth and discreet elegance of a civilized home—
Joseph Wechsberg
Joseph Wechsberg3
: unobtrusive, unnoticeable
followed at a discreet distance
discreetly
adverb
discreetness
noun
Synonyms
Examples of discreet in a Sentence
For a couple who wanted a discreet bar between the study and the living room, Quogue, New York, architect Stuart Disston designed a small-scale bar that's hidden behind … doors under the stairs and takes advantage of plumbing in an adjacent powder room.
—Sallie Brady, This Old House, January/February 2006
Without the knowledge of the exiled African National Congress leadership, he entered into a discreet dialogue with the South African government—which was reaching a similar conclusion. He later succeeded in convincing suspicious comrades of the need for a negotiated solution.
—F. W. De Klerk, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
The New York Stock Exchange, meanwhile, has proposed a rule that would bar a stock-market analyst from talking to newspapers that fail to disclose the analyst's conflicts of interest. Even the C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs, one of Wall Street's most discreet firms, has chimed in … and has extorted his peers to restore "trust in our system."
—New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2002
Discreet disclaimers by the tourist board to the effect that "there is no evidence whatever that Prince Vlad Tepes (TSEH-pesh), or Vlad the Impaler, inhabited the castle" do nothing to discourage its notoriety as Dracula's reputed residence. Mythically, at least, this is in fact where he lived—and always will.
—Erik Sandberg-Diment, New York Times, 21 June 1998
he was very discreet, only saying what was necessary
with a discreet gesture, she signalled to her husband that she was ready to leave the party
Sallie Brady, This Old House, January/February 2006
Without the knowledge of the exiled African National Congress leadership, he entered into a discreet dialogue with the South African government—which was reaching a similar conclusion. He later succeeded in convincing suspicious comrades of the need for a negotiated solution.
—F. W. De Klerk, Time, 18 Apr. 2005
The New York Stock Exchange, meanwhile, has proposed a rule that would bar a stock-market analyst from talking to newspapers that fail to disclose the analyst's conflicts of interest. Even the C.E.O. of Goldman Sachs, one of Wall Street's most discreet firms, has chimed in … and has extorted his peers to restore "trust in our system."
—New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2002
Discreet disclaimers by the tourist board to the effect that "there is no evidence whatever that Prince Vlad Tepes (TSEH-pesh), or Vlad the Impaler, inhabited the castle" do nothing to discourage its notoriety as Dracula's reputed residence. Mythically, at least, this is in fact where he lived—and always will.
—Erik Sandberg-Diment, New York Times, 21 June 1998
he was very discreet, only saying what was necessary
with a discreet gesture, she signalled to her husband that she was ready to leave the party
Recent Examples on the Web
What ended up happening in the years after the rollback went into effect in 2018 was so discreet that most people unlikely noticed its effects, says Stanford Law professor Barbara van Schewick, who directs the school's Center for Internet and Society and supports net neutrality.
—Emma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
The overcast sky was good for castle-building—too much sun dries out the sand—but Adelman was trying to be discreet.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
However, Verma is also there for those who prefer a more discreet approach.
—Alyssa Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These styles are discreet yet approachable, elegant yet versatile.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
The charging pad is perfect for crowded desks or nightstands, providing a convenient and discreet way of quickly replenishing mobile devices wirelessly.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
An easy-to-use nursing clasp and pull-down design makes for convenient nursing access, while pulling down a front fabric overlap reveals discreet slits for pump flanges.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
There were a few more discreet looks that shined this week, too.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
As a discreet, easy manner to take CBD on-the-go-, edibles have become quite the trend over the past couple of years.
—Chrono Therapeutics, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
Emma Bowman, NPR, 26 Apr. 2024
The overcast sky was good for castle-building—too much sun dries out the sand—but Adelman was trying to be discreet.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 15 Apr. 2024
However, Verma is also there for those who prefer a more discreet approach.
—Alyssa Edwards, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These styles are discreet yet approachable, elegant yet versatile.
—Michael Stefanov, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024
The charging pad is perfect for crowded desks or nightstands, providing a convenient and discreet way of quickly replenishing mobile devices wirelessly.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024
An easy-to-use nursing clasp and pull-down design makes for convenient nursing access, while pulling down a front fabric overlap reveals discreet slits for pump flanges.
—Katrina Cossey, Parents, 10 Apr. 2024
There were a few more discreet looks that shined this week, too.
—Christian Allaire, Vogue, 7 Apr. 2024
As a discreet, easy manner to take CBD on-the-go-, edibles have become quite the trend over the past couple of years.
—Chrono Therapeutics, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'discreet.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near discreet
Cite this Entry
“Discreet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/discreet. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
discreet
adjective
dis·creet
dis-ˈkrēt 
: having or showing good judgment especially in conduct or speech
discreetly
adverb
discreetness
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share