Synonym Chooser

How is the word judicious distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of judicious are prudent, sage, sane, sapient, sensible, and wise. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When would prudent be a good substitute for judicious?

While the synonyms prudent and judicious are close in meaning, prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

Where would sage be a reasonable alternative to judicious?

The words sage and judicious can be used in similar contexts, but sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

When could sane be used to replace judicious?

While in some cases nearly identical to judicious, sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

When is sapient a more appropriate choice than judicious?

In some situations, the words sapient and judicious are roughly equivalent. However, sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When might sensible be a better fit than judicious?

The words sensible and judicious are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

In what contexts can wise take the place of judicious?

Although the words wise and judicious have much in common, wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of judicious The design contributions are more notable for their judicious neutrality than any conspicuous style, though Chiara Costanza’s original score adds another atypical flavor. Dennis Harvey, Variety, 20 June 2025 This makes seasoning a bit difficult to maintain, and requires some attention and judicious use of an infrared thermometer to monitor griddle temps. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 14 June 2025 Summarizing content is one of the more judicious applications of generative AI technology, dating back to the 2017 paper on the transformer architecture. Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 May 2025 Some judicious unpacking on those two approaches might be insightful. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for judicious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for judicious
Adjective
  • Lucy’s colleagues refer to men like him—tall, handsome, in finance, intelligent, urbane—as unicorns.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 21 June 2025
  • Celebrate intelligent risk-taking, not just polished outcomes.
    Bill Fischer, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025
Adjective
  • Banning any emulsifiers that might be found to cause serious harm would be prudent, but then foods that contain them would have to be reformulated—a costly, time-consuming endeavor.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 25 June 2025
  • The trade Given these risks, hedging is prudent for investors with significant tech exposure, particularly those concerned about short-term volatility.
    Michael Khouw, CNBC, 23 June 2025
Adjective
  • The prospect of higher inflation even as present data looks mild has led to a staredown between the Fed, which has advocated for a cautious approach on cutting interest rates in case tariffs do worsen inflation, and Trump, who has aggressively called for big cuts.
    Derek Saul, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025
  • However, be cautious, as the sand and bits of material can fly out with considerable force.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 June 2025
Adjective
  • Those who are successful in the job market learn how to embrace tradeoffs to make wise choices.
    Michael B. Horn, Time, 24 June 2025
  • Washington eventually adopted more sensible approaches that mobilized the resources of key allies, developed a wiser balance between conventional and nuclear tools, and assumed a less confrontational attitude toward Moscow.
    JENNIFER LIND, Foreign Affairs, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • For $2,100 per day, Royal Expression Travels provides an SUV or sedan with a driver at your beck and call to arrange anything from last-minute diamond shopping or rerouting helicopters to a discreet helipad.
    Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025
  • There is a big black screen covering one side of the discreet studio space to which I’ve been sent for a meeting with Demna in a suburb of Paris.
    Sarah Mower, Vogue, 24 June 2025
Adjective
  • Macaluso, too, suggests that rather than fighting over redfish, sportsmen ought to expand their notions of which fish are desirable.
    Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 June 2025
  • These two effects are desirable for reducing heart health risks.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 25 June 2025
Adjective
  • When Doku opened the scoring in the ninth minute, Guardiola, with his hands as tactical puppets, was seen having a detailed talk with his striker on the bench.
    Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 27 June 2025
  • For Williams, the partnership is both tactical and deeply aligned.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Judicious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/judicious. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.

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