discretion

noun

dis·cre·tion di-ˈskre-shən How to pronounce discretion (audio)

: individual choice or judgment

left the decision to his discretion

: power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds

reached the age of discretion

: the quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment : the quality of being discreet : circumspection

especially : cautious reserve in speech

: ability to make responsible decisions

: the result of separating or distinguishing

Example Sentences

Though it is worth noting that to live in a place where other people come just for pleasure has the odd effect of making me feel transient, while the visitors seem more fixed and permanent in their lives, coming as they do from more conventional homes far away. It is as if I am always waiting for them and am here at their discretion.

Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008 In Texas "capital" murder doesn't necessarily mean a death-penalty case; it's the designation for any aggravated murder, and prosecutors have full discretion in deciding whether to seek death in such cases.

John Cloud, Time, 14 July 2003 Del Monte was a courtier, bureaucrat, diplomat and politician born and bred and he understood the need for discretion.

Peter Robb, The Man Who Became Caravaggio, (1998) 1999 Each artist in the gallery has discretion over the price that will be charged for his or her work. The coach used his own discretion to let the injured quarterback play. He always uses care and discretion when dealing with others. She handled the awkward situation with great discretion. See More

Recent Examples on the Web The provision also allowed local governments discretion to ban cannabis businesses — and the vast majority of them did.

Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children.

Darcy Costello, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 But there is also the useful notion of prosecutorial discretion, which often is about recognizing a larger public good.

Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children.

Darcy Costello, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children.

Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2022 Don’t let the yellow and red staircase fool you, either—the white, airy studio on the second floor is a bubble of tranquility, discretion, and transformation.

Katie Becker, Vogue, 6 June 2022 Viewer discretion, and easy access to IMDb, is advised.

Carrie Pinkard, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2022 This reserve belongs to his quaint early style of hip-hop that sometimes acknowledged masculine, patriarchal discretion.

Armond White, National Review, 30 Mar. 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English discrecioun "rational perception, moral discernment, good judgment," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discreciun, descrecion, borrowed from Late Latin discrētiōn-, discrētiō "separation, act or power of distinguishing, caution, prudence," going back to Latin, "division, discrimination," from discrē-, variant stem of discernere "to separate, distinguish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at discern

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Legal Definition

discretion

noun

dis·cre·tion dis-ˈkre-shən How to pronounce discretion (audio)

: power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain bounds imposed by law

reached the age of discretion

struck down death penalty provisions administered through unbridled jury discretion

L. H. Tribe

: as

: the power of a judge to use his or her own judgment in making decisions guided by what is fair and equitable and by principles of law see also abuse of discretion

: the power of a public official or employee to act and make decisions based on his or her own judgment or conscience within the bounds of reason and the law

discretion

noun

as in prudence

the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters we'll rely on your discretion in handling this accusation of cheating

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

prudence
wisdom
sense
wit
policy
discreetness
sensibleness
intelligence
levelheadedness
common sense
judgment
caution
gumption
logicality
insight
logicalness
horse sense
brains
practicality
nous
foresightedness
judgement
foresight
rationality
circumspection
gray matter
farsightedness
perspicacity
discernment
sagacity
forethoughtfulness
acumen
shrewdness
forehandedness
discrimination
street smarts
astuteness
clearheadedness
precaution
care
penetration
sapience
rationalness
keenness
premeditation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

indiscretion
imprudence
carelessness
shortsightedness
stupidity
foolishness
idiocy
unreasonableness
half-wittedness
senselessness
heedlessness
brainlessness

as in choice

the power, right, or opportunity to choose ambassadorships are generally regarded as subject to the president's discretion

Synonyms & Similar Words

choice
option
preference
liberty
way
alternative
selection
volition
determination
pick
election
vote
druthers
will
judgment
free will
say
inclination
predilection
perspicacity
liking
proclivity
propensity
discernment
voice
partiality
judgement
penchant
tendency

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

force
obligation
duty
coercion
duress
Hobson's choice

as in restraint

the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others in that job you'll be expected to show discretion and act like a professional at all times

Synonyms & Similar Words

restraint
discipline
inhibition
composure
suppression
reserve
repression
self-restraint
constraint
refrainment
self-control
possession
self-command
control
mastery
continence
will
willpower
modesty
reticence
self-discipline
taciturnity
bashfulness
distance
aloofness
detachedness
silence
self-mastery
self-censorship
command
shyness
self-poise
self-possession
self-containment
self-denial
self-government

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

unconstraint
disinhibition
indulgence
incontinence
gratification
uninhibitedness
frankness
candor
bluntness
overindulgence
unrestrainedness
intemperance
self-abandonment
self-indulgence
immoderacy

单词	discretion
释义	discretion noun dis·cre·tion di-ˈskre-shən 1 a : individual choice or judgment left the decision to his discretion b : power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain legal bounds reached the age of discretion 2 : the quality of having or showing discernment or good judgment : the quality of being discreet : circumspection especially : cautious reserve in speech 3 : ability to make responsible decisions 4 : the result of separating or distinguishing Synonyms common sense discreetness gumption [chiefly dialect] horse sense levelheadedness nous [chiefly British] policy prudence sense sensibleness wisdom wit See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Though it is worth noting that to live in a place where other people come just for pleasure has the odd effect of making me feel transient, while the visitors seem more fixed and permanent in their lives, coming as they do from more conventional homes far away. It is as if I am always waiting for them and am here at their discretion. Richard Ford, Wall Street Journal, 14-15 June 2008 In Texas "capital" murder doesn't necessarily mean a death-penalty case; it's the designation for any aggravated murder, and prosecutors have full discretion in deciding whether to seek death in such cases. John Cloud, Time, 14 July 2003 Del Monte was a courtier, bureaucrat, diplomat and politician born and bred and he understood the need for discretion. Peter Robb, The Man Who Became Caravaggio, (1998) 1999 Each artist in the gallery has discretion over the price that will be charged for his or her work. The coach used his own discretion to let the injured quarterback play. He always uses care and discretion when dealing with others. She handled the awkward situation with great discretion. See More Recent Examples on the Web The provision also allowed local governments discretion to ban cannabis businesses — and the vast majority of them did. Justin Raystaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 22 June 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children. Darcy Costello, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 But there is also the useful notion of prosecutorial discretion, which often is about recognizing a larger public good. Daniel Henninger, WSJ, 17 Aug. 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children. Darcy Costello, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 Coleman had argued judges should have additional discretion, not mandatory sentencing guidelines, in issuing sentences for children. Darcy Costello, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2022 Don’t let the yellow and red staircase fool you, either—the white, airy studio on the second floor is a bubble of tranquility, discretion, and transformation. Katie Becker, Vogue, 6 June 2022 Viewer discretion, and easy access to IMDb, is advised. Carrie Pinkard, The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2022 This reserve belongs to his quaint early style of hip-hop that sometimes acknowledged masculine, patriarchal discretion. Armond White, National Review, 30 Mar. 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English discrecioun "rational perception, moral discernment, good judgment," borrowed from Anglo-French & Late Latin; Anglo-French discreciun, descrecion, borrowed from Late Latin discrētiōn-, discrētiō "separation, act or power of distinguishing, caution, prudence," going back to Latin, "division, discrimination," from discrē-, variant stem of discernere "to separate, distinguish" + -tiōn-, -tiō, suffix of verbal action — more at discern First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2 Phrases Containing discretion at (someone's) discretion discretion is the better part of valor the soul of discretion parental discretion leave to the discretion of at the discretion of (someone) at (someone's) discretion discretion is the better part of valor the soul of discretion parental discretion leave to the discretion of at the discretion of (someone) Kids Definition discretion noun dis·cre·tion di-ˈskre-shən 1 : care in not attracting attention or letting out private information Use discretion in dealing with the situation. 2 : the power to decide what to do I'll leave it to your discretion. Legal Definition discretion noun dis·cre·tion dis-ˈkre-shən : power of free decision or latitude of choice within certain bounds imposed by law reached the age of discretion struck down death penalty provisions administered through unbridled jury discretion L. H. Tribe : as a : the power of a judge to use his or her own judgment in making decisions guided by what is fair and equitable and by principles of law see also abuse of discretion b : the power of a public official or employee to act and make decisions based on his or her own judgment or conscience within the bounds of reason and the law discretion noun 1 as in prudence the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters we'll rely on your discretion in handling this accusation of cheating Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance prudence wisdom sense wit policy discreetness sensibleness intelligence levelheadedness common sense judgment caution gumption logicality insight logicalness horse sense brains practicality nous foresightedness judgement foresight rationality circumspection gray matter farsightedness perspicacity discernment sagacity forethoughtfulness acumen shrewdness forehandedness discrimination street smarts astuteness clearheadedness precaution care penetration sapience rationalness keenness premeditation Antonyms & Near Antonyms indiscretion imprudence carelessness shortsightedness stupidity foolishness idiocy unreasonableness half-wittedness senselessness heedlessness brainlessness See More 2 as in choice the power, right, or opportunity to choose ambassadorships are generally regarded as subject to the president's discretion Synonyms & Similar Words choice option preference liberty way alternative selection volition determination pick election vote druthers will judgment free will say inclination predilection perspicacity liking proclivity propensity discernment voice partiality judgement penchant tendency Antonyms & Near Antonyms force obligation duty coercion duress Hobson's choice 3 as in restraint the checking of one's true feelings and impulses when dealing with others in that job you'll be expected to show discretion and act like a professional at all times Synonyms & Similar Words restraint discipline inhibition composure suppression reserve repression self-restraint constraint refrainment self-control possession self-command control mastery continence will willpower modesty reticence self-discipline taciturnity bashfulness distance aloofness detachedness silence self-mastery self-censorship command shyness self-poise self-possession self-containment self-denial self-government Antonyms & Near Antonyms unconstraint disinhibition indulgence incontinence gratification uninhibitedness frankness candor bluntness overindulgence unrestrainedness intemperance self-abandonment self-indulgence immoderacy See More
随便看	slackness slacknesses slacks slacks (off) slacks off sladang sladangs slade slades slae slaes slag slag block slag cement slag concrete slag furnace slag glass slag heap slag hearth slag off slag sand slag wool slag-tap furnace slagged slagged off

discretion

noun

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing discretion

Kids Definition

noun

Legal Definition

noun

noun