discern
Detect subtle differences
To discern is to perceive or recognize something, especially when it requires effort or careful attention.
You might discern a pattern in data, discern someone's true motives, or discern a faint shape in the fog.
The word suggests seeing through surface appearances to grasp what lies beneath: I couldn't discern whether she was joking.
Discerning as an adjective describes someone with good judgment or refined taste.
Notice or discover
- recognizePerceive as known
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- identifyEstablish who or what
- noticeBecome aware of
observe · differentiate · sense · spot · discriminate · make out · pick out · tell apart
Determine value or quality
- assessJudge worth or quality
- determineEstablish through investigation
- appraiseDetermine value of
- weighDetermine mass or ponder
adjudge · conclude · decide · deliberate · scrutinize · analyze · critique · examine
Perception or judgment
- intuitKnow by instinct
- hunchUnproven inner sense
- inklingSlight, uncertain awareness
- gut feelingInstinctive sense about something
instinct · premonition · presentiment · suspicion · impression · foreboding · foresight · sixth sense
Mental comprehension of something
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
- realizationGrasping what's true
- graspSeize or understand
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
cognition · perspicacity · acumen · sagacity · enlightenment · epiphany · apprehension · penetration
Showing careful judgment
- refinedPurified or cultured
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
- connoisseurExpert in matters of taste
palate · aesthetic · appreciation · selectivity · fastidious · elegance · cultured · sensibility
detect
Notice or discover
- recognizePerceive as known
- distinguishRecognize as distinct
- identifyEstablish who or what
notice · observe · differentiate · sense · spot · discriminate · make out · pick out · tell apart · perceive
evaluate
Determine value or quality
weigh · adjudge · conclude · decide · deliberate · scrutinize · analyze · critique · examine · consider
sense
Perception or judgment
gut feeling · instinct · premonition · presentiment · suspicion · impression · foreboding · foresight · sixth sense · perceive
understanding
Mental comprehension of something
- comprehensionMental understanding of meaning
- realizationGrasping what's true
- graspSeize or understand
awareness · cognition · perspicacity · acumen · sagacity · enlightenment · epiphany · apprehension · penetration · astuteness
discriminating
Showing careful judgment
- refinedPurified or cultured
- cultivatedImproved through nurture
- sophisticatedWorldly and cultured
connoisseur · palate · aesthetic · appreciation · selectivity · fastidious · elegance · cultured · sensibility · fine distinctions
- detectiondetect, discover, find, identify, locate
- discoveryfind, finding, discovery, discover, finding out
- examineexamine, analyze, assess, evaluate, inspect
- judgmentsjudgment call, judge, moral judgment, criticize, value judgment
- understandingunderstand, comprehend, grasp, fathom, follow
- recognizenotice, spot, detect, identify, perceive
discernmiss
Fail to reach
overlook · overpass · pass over · lose sight of · misperceive
discernconfuse
Cause mental disorientation
misunderstand · misinterpret · misconstrue · misread · misperceive
- spiritual discernmentPerceiving divine truth clearly
discerning, discernible, discernment, discerned, indiscernible, discerns, undiscerning, discernable, discerner