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

Each punch line hinged on Bild Lilli’s hotness, her horniness, or her lack of common sense. — Brennan Kilbane, Allure, "Barbie's 60th Birthday Wish Was to Be More Inclusive. Now What?," 2 May 2019 All of their pieces are pressure fit, meaning that there's absolutely nothing needed for assembly—just your hands and a bit of common sense. — Elizabeth Gulino, House Beautiful, "This Furniture Takes 30 Seconds to Assemble, and You Don't Need Any Tools to Build It," 12 Mar. 2019 Rich Negrin, board member of CeasefirePA and an advocate for common sense gun reform, has told the Philadelphia Citizen how his life was changed by gun violence in a moving essay. — Aubrey Nagle, Philly.com, "Starbucks protests continue, Temple suspends frat, Flyers end playoff run | Morning Newsletter," 23 Apr. 2018 In her speech to the crowd, provided to AL.com, 16-year-old sophomore Chloe Duren encouraged attendees to vote out politicians who refuse to support common sense gun law reform. — Trisha Powell Crain, AL.com, "Alabama's March for Our Lives 2018: Here's what the marches looked like," 26 Mar. 2018 The overwhelming majority of NRA members support common sense gun reform issues. — Michael Harriot, The Root, "Issa Trap: How Killer Mike Became the NRA's Token Negro," 26 Mar. 2018 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

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.