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 sage in a Sentence
Adjective
a sage suggestion that anyone should think long and hard before deciding to marry
the young prince made a pilgrimage to the sage, hoping to learn the meaning of life
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Noun
Hyssop, borage, and sage are known for their attractive blooms.—Sheryl Geerts, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 July 2025 Some sage advice from a California grandmother has been viewed by over 14.9 million people online.—Daniella Gray, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 Visitors and staff were evacuated from the park on Thursday as the fire is burned through pinyon pine, juniper, sage and grass.—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 11 July 2025 The researchers looked at how honeybees interacted with three native plants: black sage, white sage and distant phacelia.—Los Angeles Times, 8 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sage
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *sapius, from Latin sapere to taste, have good taste, be wise; akin to Oscan sipus knowing, Old Saxon ansebbian to perceive
Noun (2)
Middle English, from Anglo-French sage, salge, from Latin salvia, from salvus healthy; from its use as a medicinal herb — more at safe
Middle English sage "wise," from early French sage (same meaning), derived from Latin sapere "to be wise, taste, have good taste" — related to insipid, savant
Noun
Middle English sage "sage plant," from early French sage, salge (same meaning), from Latin salvia "sage plant used for health," from salvus "safe, healthy" — related to safe, save
: a perennial mint of the genus Salvia (S. officinalis) having grayish green pungent and aromatic leaves that are much used in flavoring foods and as a mild tonic and astringent
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