| Library / English Dictionary |
DISCREETNESS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Subtly skillful handling of a situation
Synonyms:
delicacy; diplomacy; discreetness; finesse
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Hypernyms ("discreetness" is a kind of...):
tact; tactfulness (consideration in dealing with others and avoiding giving offense)
Derivation:
discreet (marked by prudence or modesty and wise self-restraint)
discreet (unobtrusively perceptive and sympathetic)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress
Example:
the servants showed great tact and discretion
Synonyms:
circumspection; discreetness; discretion; prudence
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("discreetness" is a kind of...):
discernment; judgement; judgment; sagaciousness; sagacity (the mental ability to understand and discriminate between relations)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "discreetness"):
confidentiality (discretion in keeping secret information)
Derivation:
discreet (heedful of potential consequences)
