judicious

adjective

ju·​di·​cious jü-ˈdi-shəs 

: having, exercising, or characterized by sound judgment

judicious investments

a judicious decision

judiciously adverb

judiciousness noun

Synonyms

• intelligent
• prudent
• cautious
• discreet

Choose the Right Synonym for judicious

wise, sage, sapient, judicious, prudent, sensible, sane 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

sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

Examples of judicious in a Sentence

judicious use of our resources

Judicious planning now can prevent problems later.

Recent Examples on the Web

Like many former holdouts, Kevin felt that his judicious use of A.I. was more defensible than his peers’ use of it. —Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 30 June 2025

The way to do it is with judicious use of strong contrast colours, and that’s exactly what Nike has done here, with those pinks, blues and reds underneath the armpits and down the side of the shorts. —Nick Miller, New York Times, 28 June 2025

Instead, real power listens, real might is judicious, and real leadership invites doubt. —Reshma Saujani, Time, 19 May 2025

That, combined with vines that are more than 20 years old, and a judicious 20-month repose in 45% new French oak, has resulted in a wine that showcases just how delicious, dramatic, and age-worthy the top Cabs from Sonoma can be. —Brian Freedman, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for judicious

• adventitious
• cementitious
• expeditious
• inauspicious
• injudicious
• meretricious
• repetitious
• superstitious
• surreptitious
• unambitious
• unpropitious
• unsuspicious

Kids Definition

judicious

adjective

ju·​di·​cious ju̇-ˈdish-əs 

: having, exercising, or characterized by sound judgment

judiciously adverb