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sixth sense
noun
: a power of perception like but not one of the five senses : a keen intuitive power
Examples of sixth sense in a Sentence
She claimed to have a sixth sense for knowing when someone was about to call her.
a filmmaker with a sixth sense for knowing which stories the general public will find irresistible
Recent Examples on the Web
Late founder Roger Ailes (and current CEO Suzanne Scott) was said to have a sixth sense for what their viewers want.
—Lachlan Cartwright, The Hollywood Reporter, 11 Apr. 2024
What thrill is there in seeing a hero come into an inexplicable sixth sense, or a villain toy with their newfound abilities, when it’s all presented to us as stuff that just kind of happens, with no rhyme or reason or constraint?
—Angie Han, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Mar. 2024
The 6-foot-3 guard probably would no longer live in the paint and use his 6-10 wingspan and sixth sense for creating contact to draw fouls.
—Andrew Greif, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2024
The designer’s sixth sense has surely been honed by experience, but perhaps there’s a bit of destiny involved as well.
—Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 28 Sep. 2023
Your sixth sense will tell you—even children will know.
—Jocelyn Silver, Vogue, 21 July 2023
Bats’ sixth sense Naturalists had long understood that bats must communicate in some way — 18th century Italian scientist Lazarro Spallanzani put an owl and a bat in a completely dark room and found that while the bat flew effortlessly, the owl kept bumping into objects in its flight path.
—Katie Hunt, CNN, 26 Apr. 2023
Some Good Morning America viewers might have a sixth sense.
—Janine Rubenstein, Peoplemag, 30 Apr. 2023
Because of, sort of, the sixth sense in the pocket, the decision-making, processing information quickly.
—Mike Rodak | Mrodak@al.com, al, 11 Apr. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sixth sense.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1761, in the meaning defined above
Articles Related to sixth sense
Dictionary Entries Near sixth sense
Cite this Entry
“Sixth sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sixth%20sense. Accessed 15 Jun. 2024.
Kids Definition
sixth sense
noun
: a special ability to sense something that does not involve the five senses
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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