discernment stresses accuracy (as in reading character or motives or appreciating art).
the discernment to know true friends
discrimination stresses the power to distinguish and select what is true or appropriate or excellent.
the discrimination that develops through listening to a lot of great music
perception implies quick and often sympathetic discernment (as of shades of feeling).
a novelist of keen perception into human motives
penetration implies a searching mind that goes beyond what is obvious or superficial.
lacks the penetration to see the scorn beneath their friendly smiles
insight suggests depth of discernment coupled with understanding sympathy.
a documentary providing insight into the plight of the homeless
acumen implies characteristic penetration combined with keen practical judgment.
a director of reliable box-office acumen
Example Sentences
I wasn't sanguine about my powers of discernment, as I've failed similar exercises in the Central Park Ramble, where I practice bird-watching for dummies and am scarcely able to distinguish a rook from a duck. Judith Thurman, New Yorker, 1 Dec., 2003Varying widely in scope and theme, the 10 essays about the Bill of Rights in this collection often shine with insight and sparkling turns of phrase; some, however, betray lack of discernment. Jonathan Kellerman et al., Publishers Weekly, 17 Apr. 2000If one searched the archives to find an example of Spanish colonial policy at its worst, one would surely select Don Carlos Benites Franquis de Lugo, a vain, arrogant, opinionated fop who never displayed a shred of either courage or discernment but who did distinguish himself as one of the most inept and vengeful Spaniards ever to function overseas. James A. Michener, Texas, 1985 His lack of discernment led to his disastrous choice of business partners. the discernment to know when someone is a true friend
Recent Examples on the WebThe healing remedy for Pisces/12th House Chiron placements would be to tap into their intuition and use it to develop a better sense of discernment toward people, jobs, and opportunities that seem too good to be true. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 11 Aug. 2022 Yet Streep hasn’t received credit for this dumbing-down of spectator discernment. Armond White, National Review, 6 July 2022 On the other side are Christian schools that crack down on doctrine, making faculty and staff sign narrow statements of faith that don’t leave room for individual discernment. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 30 June 2022 Remember not to approach life with paranoia; discernment is not meant to be a scary thing. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 Aug. 2022 Remember not to approach life with paranoia, discernment is not meant to be a scary thing. Meghan Rose, Glamour, 1 July 2022 Selling is about effective discernment and time management. John Hayes, Forbes, 29 June 2022 After five months of discernment, Pope Francis accepted the request. Haleigh Kochanski, The Arizona Republic, 10 June 2022 Antonoff applies this sort of discernment to everything Bleachers-related: the group’s album-cover typeface, its Instagram color palette, its between-songs banter. Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 16 May 2022 See More
Word History
Etymology
discern + -ment, perhaps after Middle French discernement