as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
the company needs a new leader with the gumption and know-how that comes from experience
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Recent Examples of gumption
Wall Street observers admire Paramount Skydance’s new gumption, but also recognize some of its assets face strong, ongoing challenges.
—
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, opponents of zero-defect culture question whether officers who survive in today’s system have the gumption and risk-taking instincts to win the next big war.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Fitzgerald’s gumption as a deep field-goal kicker was tested with the Panthers up, 7-0, and having all the momentum.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2025
And of course, as has been the case since the beginning of MLPerf, Nvidia ran all the models and beat back all the competition, the few that had the gumption to compete.
—Karl Freund, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gumption
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Nov. 2025
Meanwhile, opponents of zero-defect culture question whether officers who survive in today’s system have the gumption and risk-taking instincts to win the next big war.
—Davis Winkie, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Fitzgerald’s gumption as a deep field-goal kicker was tested with the Panthers up, 7-0, and having all the momentum.
—Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2025
And of course, as has been the case since the beginning of MLPerf, Nvidia ran all the models and beat back all the competition, the few that had the gumption to compete.
—Karl Freund, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gumption
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gumption
Noun
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The two big investments in their front seven — particularly Phillips’ whopping four-year, $120 million deal — also meant the Panthers would have to exercise financial prudence with their other additions, at least one of which was a head-scratcher.—
Joseph Person,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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This is not the time for fiscal prudence for the Sharks.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
4 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The name of the basilica next to the cloister, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, is indicative of its past, a Catholic basilica dedicated to the Virgin Mary over what was once a pagan temple to the Roman god of wisdom, Minerva.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Mar. 2026
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But the relentless words of wisdom, and the shouting-to-the-rafters way they’re delivered, soon become tiresome.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
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That sense of being caught in the middle is echoed by Jewish Americans themselves.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
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The sense of shame never really goes away.—
Stuart James,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The title of this Beckett classic just about sums up the onstage plot — but as Vladimir and Estragon pass time under a tree, their absurdist wit turns to existential rage.—
Jared Kaufman,
Twin Cities,
18 Mar. 2026
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What separates Mary from Alex, and the magnetically likable from everyone else, isn’t status, good looks, or wit.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gumption.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gumption. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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