clearheaded

adjective

ˈklir-ˌhe-dəd How to pronounce clearheaded (audio)
Definition of clearheadednext
1
as in lucid
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions waited until she was clearheaded to make the decision

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sober
not having one's mind affected by alcohol woke up clearheaded and alert the next morning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clearheaded Such detachment was meant to allow for accurate diagnoses and clearheaded decision-making. — Rachel Pearson, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025 In just 60 seconds, most people feel calmer, more clearheaded and more energized. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2025 The extremely clearheaded way Pistorius describes an experience that, thankfully, almost none of us will ever go through is what lends so much power to Ghost Boy’s narrative. — Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025 Delta 8 has a lower psychotropic potency than delta-nine and produces more clearheaded effects. — The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2022 See All Example Sentences for clearheaded
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clearheaded
  1. lucid
  2. sober
  3. stable
  4. normal
  5. rational
  6. sane
  7. balanced
Adjective
  • This lucid translation makes no apologies for preserving Homer’s (to us) nonidiomatic constructions.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 3 Nov. 2026
  • Perfectly lucid, aware of the smell of Simple Green overtaken by perfumes, the talcum stink of baby powder.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of lucid
Adjective
  • Occasionally eyebrows have been raised and tongues have clucked, as when Nancy Reagan splashed out on new china, but a simple and sober aesthetic has been maintained, as befits a democratic republic.
    — Clarence Page, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
  • None of this absolves Karen of responsibility for her actions, and sober counselors will readily tell you that the process of recovery can and often does fundamentally alter a relationship’s dynamics.
    — Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of sober
Adjective
  • In a unanimous vote, the 44 senators present voted to remove Peña for misconduct in office, bringing a dramatic end to one of South America's most stable presidencies.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 7 Nov. 2026
  • This bike would make a lot more sense if my feet were solid and stable underneath me.
    — Kevin Fanady, New Atlas, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of stable
Adjective
  • It's shot up from less than $97 at the start of the month on uncertainty about when the war with Iran will allow the global energy industry to return to normal.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Menopause is the normal part of a woman’s aging process that marks the end of her reproductive years.
    — Lyndon Haviland, Washington Post, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • Kim will face his last days when a large enough body of North Korean elites conclude that remaining loyal is no longer their safest and most rational choice.
    — Jieun Baek, Foreign Affairs, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Predicting the costs How cities full of rational, educated, financially prudent people get sucked in, how we’re persuaded to put aside concerns about being stuck with a massive bill and just surrender to the spectacle.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2026
Definition of rational
Adjective
  • Handed to him by the Biden administration, all that sane-washing dovetails beautifully with authoritarian religion, because Evangelical Christianity similarly preaches a version of forgiveness typically lacking in any accountability.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026
  • But that’s what has been proposed here even as the sane heads in the City Council and beyond have been howling for, and shown the way toward, efficiencies.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of sane
Adjective
  • While spaghetti squash may elicit a lower blood sugar response than acorn squash, both can fit into a balanced lifestyle that supports blood sugar levels.
    — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026
  • The administration made the fiscally responsible decision to incorporate these proceeds into its supplemental pension payment as part of a balanced budget that also maintains funding for critical services and neighborhood investments.
    — Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of balanced

Browse Nearby Words

clear-eyed
clearheaded
clearheadedness
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Cite this Entry

“Clearheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clearheaded. Accessed 7 Nov. 2026.

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