How to use discreet in a sentence
27 example sentences · adjective
Discreet means respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic. Example: “With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.”
Examples of discreet by meaning
adjectiveRespectful 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.
- John just doesn't understand that laughing at Mary all day is not very discreet.
More sentences with discreet
- Grindr has popularized the terms “discreet,” “straight-passing,” and “convincing” within gay culture.2019, Morgan Lev Edward Holleb, The A-Z of Gender and Sexuality: From Ace to Ze, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 140. From the entry masc
- Brainish men are ambitious and incapable, while discreet men are timid and excessively conservative.2012, You-sheng Chen, LunYu - Confucian Analects in Chinese & English. From the entry brainish
- 'Oh, it was a fine evening,' one discreet woman said to me.2010, Andrew Greig, At the Loch of the Green Corrie, London: Quercus Editions, published 2011, →ISBN, page 189. From the entry hooley
- I remember the day I used the word discrete (distinct) when I meant discreet (prudent).2010, Roy Peter Clark, The Glamour of Grammar. From the entry homonymphobia
- Ontario off the beaten path is safe for discreet camping, hiking, and canuding.2006, James Woycke, Au Naturel: The History of Nudism in Canada. From the entry canuding
- I am not, I regret to say, a discreet and fetching sleeper.2000, Bill Bryson, chapter 1, in In a Sunburned Country, page 11. From the entry fetching
- At least it’s given me a chance to study the hospital’s collection of discreet mementoes mori.1998, John Diamond, C: Because Cowards Get Cancer Too…, London: Vermilion, Ebury Press, published 1999, →ISBN, page 29. From the entry memento mori
- Discreet extractivisms happen on the local level, but the extractivist mindset has grave implications on the world-system level.2021, C. Parker Krieg, Reetta Toivanen, editors, Situating Sustainability: A Handbook of Contexts and Concepts, Helsinki University Press…. From the entry extractivist
- The lighting was discreet, indirect, Star Trek–ish.2021, Robert Carr, Corby Falls, Mosaic Press, →ISBN. From the entry Star Trek–ish
- What was wrong with discreet relationships with a palette of unclingy females that left him free and unrestricted?2011, Samantha Chandler, Dedicated Undeniably to You, page 14. From the entry unclingy
- As I swung onto the avenue behind her, there seemed to be a discreet, uninflammatory distance between us.2002, Jewell Parker Rhodes, The African American Guide to Writing & Publishing Non Fiction. From the entry uninflammatory
- Only I thought private eyes were supposed to be discreet; you could hardly call yourself that when you drive a Roller.1991, Sally Wentworth, Taken on Trust, page 9. From the entry roller
- He's older and more discreet— like the shrewd brace of blackbirds that waits for ricecrackers to drop from the tea pavilion.1991, Charles Atkinson, The only cure I know, page 44. From the entry ricecracker
- Both reading and writing were viewed as a series of discreet and essentially uninteresting skills to be described, worksheeted, and tested.1987, Charles R. Chew, Reflections by Teachers Who Write, page 65. From the entry worksheet
- Most of the company has moved a discreet distance away from the scene, or at least turned polite backs.1973, Reische, Diana L., The Performing arts in America, H.W. Wilson, page 144. From the entry wetmop
- He began to use more discreet color harmonies.1960, Anthony Burry, Henry Kellerman, Instructor 1960-03: Volume 69, Issue 7, Scholastic Incorporated, page 17. From the entry ultravivid
- None knew those difficult ropes better than he; none used them with a more serviceable and yet discreet alacrity.1918 May 9, Lytton Strachey, “[Cardinal Manning.] Chapter VII”, in Eminent Victorians: Cardinal Manning, Florence Nightingale, Dr. Arnold…. From the entry ramify
- Can you account him wise or discreet that would willingly have his health, and yet will do nothing that should procure or continue it?, New York, 2001, p.74. From the entry continue
- Much as one appreciates the beauty of these woodlands, it was good to learn that some discreet tree-felling may open up the view still further.1958 July, R. K. Kirkland, “Into the Mountains on the Festiniog Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 453. From the entry beauty
- The British Empire would not have endured so long had it not been for a discreet sense of moderation in its rulers, generation after generation.1947, C[harles] E[dmund] Carrington, “Imperialism in Retreat”, in An Exposition of Empire (Current Problems; 28), Cambridge…. From the entry overreach
- Look, I'm glad that you're willing to be on diaper duty for me when we go out in public, but can you try to be more discreet?2017 November 24, @diaperdood, Twitter. From the entry pampies
- To find a place like that and be discreet about it, Jones figured he needed help, so he went to see his favorite lay, Juan Carillo's woman, Carmen.2000, R. J. Kaiser, Fruitcake, MIRA, published 2000, →ISBN, page 288. From the entry lay
- The best hope has been that friends and family would talk, a hope partly realized in this discreet but perceptive memoir by his illegitimate daughter. . . .1971 August 2, Brad Darrach, “Knee-High to Ezra Pound”, in Time. From the entry by-blow
- In due time came a discreet knock and thereafter a discreet person entered, tall, quick-eyed, low-voiced, soft-stepping, he was a very model of a fashionable gentleman's gentleman.1918, Jeffery Farnol, chapter 15, in Our Admirable Betty. From the entry gentleman's gentleman
- Such media and public hostility often results in donor organisations seeking to be discreet, as opposed to overtly supporting GTR communities, for fear of alienating other sectors of the community.2014, Susan Alexander, Margaret Greenfields, “Below the radar: Gypsy and Traveller self-help communities and the role of the Travellers…. From the entry GTR
Meaning of discreet
- adjective Respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
- adjective Not drawing attention, anger or challenge; inconspicuous.
Questions about discreet in a sentence
- How do you use discreet in a sentence?
- Discreet is used as an adjective. For example: “With a discreet gesture, she reminded him to mind his manners.”
- What is a short sentence with discreet?
- “The lighting was discreet, indirect, Star Trek–ish.”
- What does discreet mean?
- Discreet means respectful of privacy or secrecy; exercising caution in order to avoid causing embarrassment; quiet; diplomatic.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: discreet (page history and authors) and the entries each sentence comes from. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws chose the sentences, left out offensive ones and quotations older than 1900, and marked the word in each. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “How to use discreet in a sentence.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/sentences/discreet. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
