discriminating
discriminating Lexical Profile
discriminating Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Having or showing refined taste, keen judgment, or the ability to recognize fine distinctions and high quality.
"The boutique caters to discriminating shoppers who appreciate handcrafted leather goods."
Serving to distinguish or mark a clear difference between things.
"The presence of a specific enzyme was the key discriminating factor between the two strains."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'discriminating' with 'discriminatory'. 'Discriminating' is usually positive, describing refined taste or careful judgment, whereas 'discriminatory' is negative, referring to unfair or prejudiced treatment.
• Rhymes for discriminating
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed from the present participle of the verb 'discriminate', which derives from the Latin 'discriminatus', past participle of 'discriminare' ('to divide, separate, or distinguish'), from 'discrimen' ('distinction, interval').