Discretion is proper to judges.
Source: tatoeba (244218)
Discretion
/dɪˈskɹɛʃən/
Synonyms for "discretion" (228 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (46)
Noun(7 words)
airtight secrecyaloofnessalternate choicealternativeanimusanticipationappetenceappetencyappetitebackwardnessbashfulnessblanknesscalculationcanninesscarecareful considerationcarefulnesscarte blanchecautioncautiousness
Show 18 more words
chillinesschoicecircumspectioncircumspectnessclose secrecyclosenesscoldnesscommandcommon senseconationconatusconcealmentconsiderationconstraintcontemplationcool judgmentcoolnesscrypticness
Adjective(1 words)
danish stilhed
Strong matches (68)
decisiondeliberate stagesdeliberatenessdeliberationdesiredetachmentdeterminationdiplomacydiscernmentdiscreetnessdiscriminationdispositiondistanceeconomyenvisagementenvisionmentevasionevasivenessexpressionlessnessfancy
Show 41 more words
farseeingnessfarsightednessfinesseforecastforeglanceforegleamforeglimpseforehandednessforeseeingforesightforesightednessforethoughtfree choicefree decisionfree willfreedomfrigidityfrostinessfull consentgingerlinessgood judgmentgood senseguardednessgumptionhedgehedgingheedheedfulnesshesitationhiddennesshugger muggerhugger-muggerhugger-muggeryicinessimpassivenessimpassivityimpersonalityinaccessibilityinclinationintelligenceintention
Noun(7 words)
Related words (114)
introversionjudgementjudgmentjudiciousnesslikinglongsightednesslooking aheadlustmindmindfulnessmoderationmodestynoncontingent free willobjectiveoptionoptionalitypassionpawkinesspleasurepolicy
Show 74 more words
politypossible choiceprecautionpredictionpreferencepreparationprepublicationpreviewprevisionprior consultationprospectprospectionprovidenceprovisionprudenceprudentialismprudentialnessreadinessreflectionreflectivenessregardfulnessremotenessrepressionreservereservednessresolutionrestraintreticencereticencyretirementsafenesssafety firstsagacitysavoir fairesaysay sosay-sosecrecysecretivenesssecretnesssensesexual desireslowness to actsolicitudesound judgmentsoundness of judgmentstandoffishnesssubduednesssubterfugesuppressiontacttastetentativenessthe darkthoroughnessthoughtfulnessunaffabilityunapproachabilityuncommunicativenessuncongenialityundemonstrativenessunexpansivenessunprecipitatenessvelleityvolitionwayweighingwillwill and pleasurewill powerwisdomwishwithdrawalwithdrawnness
Noun(17 words)
latitudelatitudeslibertieslicensemake a choicemental capacitymore individual-choicenonpublicityprerogativeprerogativesprivatenessquietnessremain silentro privatsensessensibilitytact
Adjective(3 words)
polite restraintpractical wisdomprivate autonomy
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: prudence, a secret, airtight secrecy, aloofness, alternate choice.
- Sentence evidence is available for discretion, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, opengloss, derived_reverse, moby, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "discretion".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "discretion"
Keep "discretion" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "discretion" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "discretion", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "discretion" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
15 entriesMore specific
4 entriesbudgetary discretionlegal discretionpolicy discretionprofessional discretion
Collocations
5 entriesexercise discretionprudent discretionshow discretionsound discretionuse discretion
Inflections
1 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
17 translations across 12 languages.
Armenian
1 entries- հայեցողություն noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Bulgarian
2 entries- преценка noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
- усмотрение noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Czech
2 entries- možnost se rozhodnout noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
- možnost uvážení noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Finnish
1 entries- oma harkinta noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
French
1 entries- discrétion noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
German
2 entries- Ermessen noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
- Gutdünken noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Greek
2 entries- διάκριση noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
- διακριτική ευχέρεια noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Persian
1 entries- صلاحدید noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Portuguese
1 entries- critério noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Romanian
1 entries- libertate de decizie noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Russian
2 entries- свобо́да де́йствий noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
- усмотре́ние noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Ukrainian
1 entries- розсуд noun (the freedom to make one's own judgements)
Sample sentences
14 total sentences available.
Discretion is the better part of valor.
Source: tatoeba (269048)
He has attained to years of discretion.
Source: tatoeba (303492)
Viewer discretion is advised.
Source: tatoeba (513145)
Showing 4 of 14 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "discretion"?
Closest matches include prudence, a secret, airtight secrecy, aloofness, alternate choice.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "discretion"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.