Dictionary

discreet en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /dɪˈskɹiːt/

Etymology

From Middle English discrete, from Old French discret, from Latin discrētus, from past participle of discernere. Doublet of discrete.

Meanings

1. Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
   • John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.
   • Just pass me by, don't even speak / Know the word's "discreet" with part-time lovers 1985, Stevie Wonder, “Part-Time Lover”, in In Square Circle:
   • With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
2. Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.

Forms

Deriveds

undiscreet · ultradiscreet · indiscreet · semidiscreet · discreetly · discreetness

Relateds

discretion

Synonyms

unevident · unobtrusive · prudent · appropriate · improminent · tight-lipped · inconspicuous · obscure · unconspicuous · low-profile · discreet · unobtrusive · inobtrusive · tactful · inevident · noteless · low-profile · noteless

Translations (50)

bg тактичен (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · hu titoktartó (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · fi tahdikas (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · mk дискре́тен (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · ca discret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · fi hienotunteinen (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · nl discreet (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · pt discreto (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · da diskret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · bg сдържан (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · gl discreto (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · ru незаметный (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · ru неброский (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · fr respectueux (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · bg дискретен (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · fi diskreetti (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · fi diskreetti (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · mk пре́тпазлив (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · bg предпазлив (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · de diskret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · uk стриманий (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · it discreto (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · it discreto (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · ru такти́чный (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · fi hienovarainen (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · eo diskreta (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · mk здр́жан (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · sv diskret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · el διακριτικός (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · el δισκρετ (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · pl dyskretny (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · gl discreto (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · mk благора́зумен (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · ca discret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · pt discreto (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · fi hillitty (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · de diskret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · es discreto (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · da diskret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · ro discret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · mk та́ктичен (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · el διακριτική (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · pl dyskretny (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · sv diskret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · fr discret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · tr ölçülü (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · hu tapintatos (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · hu diszkrét (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic) · ro discret (not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous) · fr discret (respectful of privacy or secrecy; quiet; diplomatic)