DISCREETNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does discreetness mean? 

• DISCREETNESS (noun)
  The noun DISCREETNESS has 2 senses:

1. knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

2. subtly skillful handling of a situation

  Familiarity information: DISCREETNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DISCREETNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

circumspection; discreetness; discretion; prudence

Context example:

the servants showed great tact and discretion

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Subtly skillful handling of a situation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

delicacy; diplomacy; discreetness; finesse

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)