Basic Details
Word: Discreet
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Careful in what you say or do so that you do not upset people or give away secrets.
Synonyms: tactful, careful, cautious, prudent
Antonyms: indiscreet, tactless, careless
Sounds like: discrete (separate and distinct, as in discrete parts)
Word origin: From Latin discretus, separated, through Old French discret.
How to Spell Discreet
Syllables: dis - creet
Tricky part: It ends in eet. Do not confuse it with discrete, which ends in ete and has a different meaning.
Watch out for: discreat, descreet, discreete
Memory tip: In discreet the two e's sit side by side, like two friends sharing a secret. In discrete, separate things, the t splits the e's apart.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The doctor was discreet and told no one about the patient's illness.
Example 2: She dropped a discreet hint that it was time to go home.
Example 3: Can you be discreet about this? I have not told anyone else yet.
Fun Fact
Discreet and discrete both come from the same Latin word and were once spelt either way; the two spellings later settled on two different meanings.
Practise the CREST Way
Spell-o-Spell
Only one of these words is spelt correctly. Choose its meaning:
1. dilligent 2. discreet 3. conscientous 4. meticulus
a) paying great attention to detail
b) careful not to give away secrets
c) taking care to do work well and thoroughly
d) hard-working and steady
Show answer
b) careful not to give away secrets. Conscientious needs an i before the ous, diligent has one l, and meticulous ends in lous.
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word discreet as used in the sentence:
Please be discreet about the surprise party, because Amma must not find out.
a) careful
b) secretive
c) quiet
d) tactless
Show answer
d) tactless. A tactless person would blurt out the secret, which is what the speaker is afraid of.
Word Cookie
Fill in the missing letters to complete the word:
di_cre_t
a) z, e
b) s, e
c) c, e
d) s, a
Show answer
b) s, e. The front is dis, and the end is a double e followed by t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which word fits: The computer stores the data in small ____ units.
a) discreat
b) discrate
c) discreet
d) discrete
Show answer
d) discrete
2. A discreet guest at a wedding would ____.
a) post every photo at once
b) keep family secrets private
c) shout during the vows
d) tell everyone the gossip
Show answer
b) keep family secrets private
