discreet
Careful not to attract attention or give away secrets.
discreet in a sentence
- 'Be discreet about the surprise party,' whispered Mum, 'or Dad will guess in a second.'
- A good waiter is discreet, clearing the plates quietly without interrupting anyone's conversation.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to discreet?
- Acareful
- Bloud
- Cshowy
- Dobvious
Show the answer
A: careful. The other three mean the opposite of discreet.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to discreet?
- Aprivate
- Bcareful
- Cobvious
- Dquiet
Show the answer
C: obvious. The other three mean nearly the same as discreet.
Words that mean something similar
careful, quiet, private
Words that mean the opposite
obvious, showy, loud
More words about behaviour & manners
- distasteful: Unpleasant or offensive, so that you dislike it.
- docile: Quiet, gentle and easy to control.
- dutiful: Careful to do everything you are supposed to do.
- eavesdrop: To listen secretly to other people's private conversation.
- entice: To tempt someone by offering them something nice.
- exempt: Allowed to skip something that everyone else must do.
- extravagant: Spending or costing far more than is needed.
- feign: To pretend to feel or be something.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test