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