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Penetrating vs Discerning - What's the difference?

penetrating | discerning |

As adjectives the difference between penetrating and discerning

is that penetrating is able to pierce or penetrate while discerning is of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

As verbs the difference between penetrating and discerning

is that penetrating is while discerning is .

As a noun discerning is

discernment.

penetrating

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • able to pierce or penetrate
    • The skunk produces a penetrating odor.
  • demonstrating acute or keen understanding
    • His novel shows a penetrating insight into the criminal mind.

    Verb

    (head)

    • discerning

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Of keen insight or good judgement; perceptive.

    • Related terms

    * discern

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • discernment
  • * 1605 , , I. iv. 224:
    • Either his notion weakens, his discernings / Are lethargied

    Anagrams

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