These two adjectives have quite unrelated meanings.
Discreet means “not drawing attention” and implies caution and politeness:
Please be discreet if you enter the theater after the play has started.
Discrete means “separable” or “clearly different”:
How many discrete ways are there to use this word?
You may also have heard the term discrete mathematics, which is the sub-field of mathematics dealing with things that can be separated—things that do not vary smoothly and continuously.
More Examples of How to Use "Discrete" in a Sentence
- I love picking apart the discrete elements of a sentence.
- The discrete data is not available to all users, so they must be given access to a special password.
- Discrete mathematics is the study of mathematical structures that are countable or fundamentally divided into separate parts.
- The data is discrete, meaning that it consists of distinct values.
- A discrete variable is one that can take on only a finite number of values, whereas a continuous variable is one that can take on any value within a certain range.
More Examples of How to Use "Discreet" in a Sentence
- I made a discreet exit from the party, hoping not to be noticed.
- Carlie gave me a discreet smile in return, indicating that she appreciated my offer.
- We chose to stay at a small motel, discreetly placed between a church and a high school.
- The officer asked me in a discreet manner if I had any information regarding the crime.
- I try to be discreet when I talk about my clients.