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Synonym Chooser

How is the word wise distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of wise are judicious, prudent, sage, sane, sapient, and sensible. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

Where would judicious be a reasonable alternative to wise?

In some situations, the words judicious and wise are roughly equivalent. However, judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When can prudent be used instead of wise?

The synonyms prudent and wise are sometimes interchangeable, but prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

When is sage a more appropriate choice than wise?

While in some cases nearly identical to wise, sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

When is it sensible to use sane instead of wise?

The meanings of sane and wise largely overlap; however, sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

In what contexts can sapient take the place of wise?

The words sapient and wise are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When could sensible be used to replace wise?

The words sensible and wise can be used in similar contexts, but sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

Examples of wise in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Then, after Machado capitalized on the count leverage by rolling a 2-and-1 single through the infield, the 13-year veteran made a wise (albeit controversial) play on the bases to change the trajectory of the game. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2024 But buying good stocks on bad news is a wise investment technique for almost anyone. John Dorfman, Forbes, 7 Oct. 2024 When her students ask her to compose a piece of music using the sound of 30 birds, Melody travels back to her home village to capture their birdsong turning for help to a wise old singer who knows their whereabouts. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 6 Oct. 2024 The conflict between the naïve Cesar and the wise elder falls laughably short of what every teenage fan of the dystopic Marvel Comics Universe already knows. Armond White, National Review, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for wise 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wise.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near wise

Cite this Entry

“Wise.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wise. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on wise

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