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
-
In all negotiations, prudence cannot be sacrificed.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
18 June 2025
-
Waugh: Fundamentally, Newcastle want to significantly bolster Howe’s squad while maintaining financial prudence.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 June 2025
Noun
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As the demographic crisis begins to take hold of the Western world, leaders will ignore the wisdom of wisdom at their own peril.—
Dan Pontefract,
Forbes.com,
28 June 2025
-
Other liberty trees soon arose, and patriots often gathered beneath the branches seeking wisdom and support.—
Orlando Sentinel Staff,
The Orlando Sentinel,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
There is not an American President—Bill Clinton, George H. W. or George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, or Donald Trump—who has dealt with Netanyahu and not, sooner or later, come away with a lingering sense of resentment.—
David Remnick,
New Yorker,
21 June 2025
-
The writers and creators tried to play down that side and ramp up Lucy’s sense of agency.—
Lexi Carson,
HollywoodReporter,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
The 6–3 opinion by Justice Samuel Alito is yet another of the fruits of the Court’s conservative majority, its fidelity to the Constitution, and its fundamental common sense.—
The Editors,
National Review,
28 June 2025
-
The Trump administration is committed to restoring common sense to our student visa system; no lawsuit, this or any other, is going to change that.—
Peter Aitken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Solo ended her high school career wit ha 63-19 record and a 1.78 ERA.—
Adam Lichtenstein,
Sun Sentinel,
20 June 2025
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With the shoreline in easy sight, the injured Nancy is stranded to fight off a killer shark with nothing more than her wits (and a seagull, which becomes her Wilson the volleyball).—
Chris Nashawaty,
EW.com,
20 June 2025
Noun
-
By the fall, the impact of President Donald Trump’s tariffs and fiscal policies should be clearer, giving the Federal Reserve more confidence to act.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
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This policy has been used to suppress Tibetan identity and reinforce Chinese political authority in the region.—
Jordan King,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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