Synonyms for discreet
- adjective
Most common
prudent circumspect tactful careful unobtrusive inconspicuous
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Prudent — respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet…
prudent, circumspect, tactful, careful, cautious, judicious, wary, considerate, thoughtful, sensible, wise, deliberate, diplomatic, appropriate, tight-lipped, provident, politic, chary, heedful, meticulous, watchful, guarded
2. Unobtrusive — not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous
unobtrusive, inconspicuous, low-profile, inevident, unevident, inobtrusive, noteless dated
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.
- adj. 2
Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.
Related words
- Word family
- discreetly discreetness discretion
Example sentences
- careful You should be careful in crossing the busy street.
- prudent You should be prudent in deciding which way to go.
- tactful My first impression was that he was a tactful politician.
- circumspect I'm merely being a little more circumspect.
- inconspicuous He's inconspicuous, unapproachable and impenetrable.
- unobtrusive It's an unobtrusive way of advertising, so they say.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| discreet | rising | |
| careful | steady | |
| prudent | steady | |
| tactful | steady | |
| circumspect | rising | |
| inconspicuous | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- wise1, wary2
- 5 letters
- plain1, chary2
- 6 letters
- simple2
- 7 letters
- careful2, guarded2, prudent2, politic3, tactful2, heedful
- 8 letters
- sensible3, cautious2, watchful2, noteless
- 9 letters
- judicious3, provident3, inevident, unevident
- 10 letters
- diplomatic4, thoughtful2, deliberate4, meticulous4, discerning3
- 11 letters
- appropriate4, considerate4, unobtrusive4, circumspect3, inobtrusive
- 13 letters
- inconspicuous4
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (wary2 = 2 syllables).