sane

adjective

ˈsān 

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

ˈsān-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• balanced
• clearheaded
• compos mentis
• lucid
• normal
• right
• stable

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

Driving the news: After three weeks of testimony, 12 jurors are deciding if Alissa — who declined to testify — was sane, intended to kill and understood his actions were wrong at the time of the shooting. —Alayna Alvarez, Axios, 20 Sep. 2024

Herold noted that the two state psychologists appointed by the court who found that Alissa was sane at the time of the attack had some reservations about their finding since Alissa did not share more information with them, even though that may helped his case. —Colleen Slevin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Sep. 2024

Your brain on parenthood If the literature of understanding kids is robust (and often eye-rolling), the literature of just trying to exist and stay sane as a parent feels kind of nonexistent. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2024

Hopkinson’s ‘Gandalf Roasts’ videos kept me (mostly) sane throughout the first season. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 4 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin sanus healthy, sane

First Known Use

1628, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sane

adjective

ˈsān 

saner; sanest

1

: mentally sound and healthy

2

: proceeding from a sound mind : rational, sensible

sanely adverb

saneness

ˈsān-nəs 

noun

Medical Definition

sane

adjective

ˈsān 

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