discreet
discreet Lexical Profile
discreet Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Careful and circumspect in one's speech or actions, especially in order to avoid causing offense, embarrassment, or the disclosure of confidential information.
"The assistant made a few discreet inquiries to verify the client's background without raising suspicion."
Intentionally unobtrusive, restrained, or modest in appearance or manner so as not to attract unwanted attention.
"She followed at a discreet distance while wearing a simple, understated coat."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with its homophone "discrete", which means "individually separate and distinct" (e.g., "discrete categories"), whereas "discreet" means "careful and tactful" in keeping secrets or avoiding offense.
• Rhymes for discreet
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the late 14th century from Old French discret, from Medieval Latin discretus ("prudent, discerning"), originally the past participle of Latin discernere ("to separate, distinguish"), making it a doublet of "discrete".