saner; sanest
1
: proceeding from a sound mind : rational
2
: mentally sound
especially : able to anticipate and appraise the effect of one's actions
3
: healthy in body
sanely adverb
saneness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sane

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 sane in a Sentence

No sane person could do something so horrible. Leaving was the only sane option she had.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Superman’s an immigrant and of course Superman wants to help and save everyone, and why would any normal sane decent person oppose that? Mark Hughes, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025 How to keep it safe and sane Everything — especially baby raves — should be enjoyed in moderation. Lynda Lin Grigsby, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2025 But for the first time in at least that long, the city will allow the sale and use of safe and sane fireworks for celebrating Independence Day. Jonathan Horwitz, Oc Register, 2 July 2025 That skill, the support of his wife, and his workout routine helped keep him sane—and humble, his wife would say. Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sane

Word History

Etymology

Latin sanus healthy, sane

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sane was in 1628

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sane.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sane. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

sane

adjective
saner; sanest
1
: mentally sound and healthy
2
: proceeding from a sound mind : rational, sensible
sanely adverb
saneness noun

Medical Definition

sane

adjective
saner; sanest
1
: free from hurt or disease : healthy
2
: mentally sound
especially : able to anticipate and appraise the effect of one's actions
3
: proceeding from a sound mind
sane behavior
sanely adverb

Legal Definition

sane

adjective
: mentally sound
specifically : able to understand one's actions and distinguish right from wrong

More from Merriam-Webster on sane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!