Answer is modified showing discretion (8)
I believe the answer is:
wariness
'discretion' is the definition.
(both can mean carefulness)
'answer is modified' is the wordplay.
'modified' indicates an anagram.
'answer'+'is'='answeris'
'answeris' is an anagram of 'WARINESS'.
'showing' is the link.
(Other definitions for wariness that I've seen before include "Circumspection" , "Caution, watchfulnes" , "State of caution" .)