wisdom

wisdom

noun

Definition of WISDOM

1

the ability to understand inner qualities or relationships <with age and experience comes wisdom—hopefully> <neither book learning nor simple intelligence should be confused with wisdom>

Synonyms discernment, insight, perception, perceptiveness, perceptivity, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sapience

Related Words acuity, acumen, astuteness, clear-sightedness, keenness, penetration, percipience, perspicacity, sensitivity, understanding; appreciation, apprehension, comprehension, grasp; brain(s), braininess, brightness, brilliance, canniness, cleverness, gray matter, intellect, intelligence, judgment (or judgement), mentality, power, reason, sense, smartness, wit; discrimination, foresight, foresightedness, judiciousness, prudence, sanity; logic, rationality

Near Antonyms density, dullness (also dulness), obtuseness; brainlessness, folly, foolishness, idiocy, imbecility, mindlessness, silliness, simplemindedness, simpleness, stupidity, witlessness; illogic, irrationality, unreasonableness, unsoundness; craziness, insanity, lunacy, madness; preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, zaniness

2

a body of facts learned by study or experience <the orientation meetings will provide the company's old hands with an opportunity to pass on their wisdom to the new employees>

Synonyms lore, science, wisdom

Related Words dope, information, intelligence, know, lowdown, news, skinny [slang]; data, evidence, facts; acquaintance, awareness, familiarity, literacy; erudition, learning, scholarship; expertise, know-how

Near Antonyms ignorance, inexperience, innocence, nescience, unfamiliarity

3

the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters <had overstayed her welcome and lacked the wisdom to know it>

Synonyms discreetness, discretion, gumption [chiefly dialect], horse sense, levelheadedness, nous [chiefly British], policy, prudence, sense, sensibleness, wisdom, wit

Related Words street smarts; farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment (or judgement); brains, gray matter, intelligence; logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness; discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience; acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness; care, caution, circumspection, precaution, premeditation

Near Antonyms shortsightedness; brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity; carelessness, heedlessness; unreasonableness

Antonyms imprudence, indiscretion

4

suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances <wondered about the wisdom of hiring such an inexperienced girl to care for the children>

Synonyms advisability, advisableness, desirability, desirableness, expedience, judiciousness, prudence, wisdom

Related Words advantageousness, beneficialness, profitability; feasibility, practicality, usefulness; opportuneness, seasonableness, timeliness

Near Antonyms impracticality, infeasibility; inopportuneness, unseasonableness, untimeliness

Antonyms imprudence, inadvisability, inexpedience, inexpediency, injudiciousness, unwisdom