as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
pure horse sense should tell you it's dangerous to play with matches
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Recent Examples of horse sense
Our people have a horse sense for what good work is.
—
Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse sense
Noun
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This is emblematic of transit leaders’ lack of fiscal prudence.—
Micky Horstman,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Aug. 2025
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While investor excitement may be high, prudence is advisable.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Time-traveling romances, space-traveling alien monsters, and celebrities in seriously great shape who want to pass along their wisdom to us normal folk — all this and more await us in this weekend’s friendly neighborhood streaming guide.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
16 Aug. 2025
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The midcentury era has carried over a few polite practices into our present-day routines, offering us easygoing wisdom and lasting insight on modern-day hospitality.—
Shivani Vyas,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
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In the most generous sense, that is what Palantir’s data analytics tools do: Allow users — mostly military and government agencies, but also private-sector companies — to better visualize large datasets.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
7 Aug. 2025
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In that sense, the suit is different from other lawsuits that have argued that AI training alone constitutes infringement.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Noun
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What is his common sense, after all, next to the cosmopolitan genius of Jefferson, or the martial courage of Washington?—
Matthew Redmond
August 13,
Literary Hub,
13 Aug. 2025
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Threats from the man on the other end, in essence, flipped a neurological switch that triggered an alarm making her brain prioritize survival instincts over common sense.—
Denise Crosby,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Aug. 2025
Noun
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With a five-octave vocal range, preternatural charm and a razor-sharp wit, Buckley’s extraordinary live performances at downtown clubs became the stuff of legend.—
Tony Gervino,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Aug. 2025
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Davies’s adeptness at verbal wit and aching melancholy are on grand display throughout The House of Mirth, one of his greatest films.—
Samantha Bergeson,
IndieWire,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Enoch did not provide examples of those policies and declined further comment on this story.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
18 Aug. 2025
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum also announced other interior policy modifications for criminal activity.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
17 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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