discreet
Not drawing attention
The adjective discreet must not be confused with another adjective, discrete, which is a homonym but not related in meaning.
Someone who is discreet shows good judgment and tact with regard to privacy or other people’s feelings or reputations: We made discreet inquiries and learned that the family did not have a place to stay.
When concrete things are described as discreet it usually means that they are unobtrusive and do their job without calling attention to themselves: The room’s discreet lighting makes for a pleasant dining experience.
Inclined to conceal
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- covertIntentionally concealed
- clandestineConcealed from authorities
hush-hush · undercover · surreptitious · hidden · veiled · incognito · anonymous · privileged
Tactful and sensitive
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
polite · courteous · gracious · respectful · thoughtful · gentle · unobtrusive · circumspect
Exercising caution and attention
- prudentExercising sound judgment
- waryGuardedly alert
- guardedWary and restrained
- circumspectCarefully considering consequences
vigilant · watchful · mindful · heedful · chary · measured · calculated · deliberate
Not readily noticed
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- mutedMade quieter or softer
- low-profileDeliberately avoiding attention
modest · unassuming · unpretentious · quiet · unnoticeable · invisible · background · subdued
Disinclined to speak freely
- taciturnHabitually uncommunicative
- quietLacking in sound
- silentProducing no sound
- uncommunicativeUnwilling to share thoughts
withdrawn · private · introverted · aloof · guarded · secretive · close-mouthed · unforthcoming
secretive
Inclined to conceal
- privateRestricted to certain parties
- classifiedRestricted from disclosure
- covertIntentionally concealed
clandestine · hush-hush · undercover · surreptitious · hidden · veiled · incognito · anonymous · privileged · encrypted
diplomatic
Tactful and sensitive
- tactfulSocially sensitive and careful
- considerateMindful of others' needs
- sensitiveEasily affected emotionally
delicate · polite · courteous · gracious · respectful · thoughtful · gentle · unobtrusive · circumspect · decorous
careful
Exercising caution and attention
circumspect · vigilant · watchful · mindful · heedful · chary · measured · calculated · deliberate · strategic
inconspicuous
Not readily noticed
- understatedDeliberately minimized in expression
- subtleNot immediately obvious
- mutedMade quieter or softer
low-profile · modest · unassuming · unpretentious · quiet · unnoticeable · invisible · background · subdued · plain
reticent
Disinclined to speak freely
uncommunicative · withdrawn · private · introverted · aloof · guarded · secretive · close-mouthed · unforthcoming · poker-faced
- confidentialconfidential, secret, private, classified, undisclosed
- Privateprivate, confidential, secret, personal, hidden
- discretionsubtle, understated, unobtrusive, inconspicuous, low-key
- personalspersonal ads, personals, SWM, classified ads, dating profile
- subtletysubtlety, understatement, understated, delicacy, hint
- silencequiet, silent, mute, hush, stillness
discreetindiscreet
Lacking prudent restraint
imprudent · reckless · rash · injudicious · careless
discreetindiscreet
Lacking prudent restraint
bigmouthed · blabby · gossipy · loose-lipped · talkative
discreetconspicuous
Clearly visible, attention-grabbing
showy · flamboyant · loud · ostentatious · noticeable
- viewer discretionContent warning notice
- discretionary spendingNon-obligatory personal expenditures
- judge's discretionCourt's interpretive freedom
- full discretion
- discretionary incomeMoney available for nonessentials
- police discretionOfficer's situational judgment authority
discretion, discrete, indiscreet, discretionary, indiscretion, discreetly, indiscreetly, discretely, indiscretions