common sense

noun

Definition of common sense

: sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation or facts She's very smart but doesn't have a lot of common sense. rely on common sense for personal safety

Other Words from common sense Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about common sense

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Other Words from common sense

commonsense \ ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)s

\ adjective

commonsensible \ ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl

\ adjective

commonsensical \ ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-kəl

\ adjective

commonsensically \ ˈkä-mən-ˈsen(t)-si-k(ə-)lē

\ adverb

Synonyms & Antonyms for common sense

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

imprudence, indiscretion

Choose the Right Synonym for common sense

sense, common sense, judgment, wisdom mean ability to reach intelligent conclusions. sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence. a choice showing good sense common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge. common sense tells me it's wrong judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity. they relied on her judgment for guidance wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average. a leader of rare wisdom

Examples of common sense in a Sentence

You really should go to see a doctor if your leg hurts that much. It's just common sense! Obey the laws and use common sense when operating your boat. She's very smart but she doesn't have a lot of common sense.

Recent Examples on the Web

There are no iron laws, but common sense suggests that there are limits. — The Economist, "History’s biggest firms," 5 July 2018 Advances in technology provides companies with seamless and common sense ways to reduce their footprint. — Jessica Firger, Newsweek, "Can Tech Save the Planet? Cisco Thinks So," 15 Dec. 2017 And most importantly, follow basic hygiene and common sense. — Jenny Marder, The Seattle Times, "There’s mold in your kids’ bath toys (and that’s probably OK)," 12 Feb. 2019 From Prada’s nylon rainwear to Junya Watanabe’s mash-ups with North Face and Carhartt, notions of practicality, protection, and straight-up common sense have resonated with editors and consumers alike. — Emily Farra, Vogue, "10 Trends We Expect to See in Men’s Street Style This Year," 2 Jan. 2019 This one requires a little common sense (please avoid small pools of standing water, okay?). — Adam Hurly, GQ, "How a Beach Vacation Can Be a Pro-Level Skincare Treatment," 7 Apr. 2018 The time has come to throw out political correctness and replace it with common sense. — WSJ, "A Parkland, Fla., Father’s Lonely Crusade," 18 Jan. 2019 Some are caused by the most peculiar things and others, with a little common sense, could have easily been avoided. — Samantha Brodsky, Good Housekeeping, "Dad Suffers Second-Degree Burns From Lime Juice," 7 July 2017 These all seem like sensible, common sense measures. — Jon Porter, The Verge, "Chrome will start warning users if a site might unexpectedly bill them," 8 Nov. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'common sense.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.