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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse sense
Noun
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The state police Troop H barracks are nearby but prudence suggested assigning a State Police trooper to the building would be best way to provide an immediate response to a problem.—
Kevin Rennie,
Hartford Courant,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Action is delayed in the name of prudence.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Zendaya will portray Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare, in the movie, according to Empire magazine.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
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There is wisdom that comes with experience, and that applies to many aspects of life, including beauty.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For the Staals, the technology offered a clear sense of what was happening inside Ethan just early enough to help him through it.—
Mayo Clinic News Network,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
This popular usage makes abundant sense.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Noun
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According to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, and common sense, a wealth tax would probably drive at least some billionaires out of the state.—
Matt Fleming,
Oc Register,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Implementing a robust and efficient system, with strong safeguards and transparent processes, honors both the Constitution and our own common sense.—
Coalition,
Hartford Courant,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Choose kindness over cleverness, warmth over wit, empathy over one-upmanship.—
Glenn Kurlander,
Fortune,
28 Jan. 2026
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Scared out of their wits, Islanders fled.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Analysts and former diplomats told CNN that successive British governments have failed to strike the correct balance on China, resulting in a policy characterized by mistrust, skittishness and incoherence.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
27 Jan. 2026
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The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights organizes, educates, and defends immigrant communities, pairing on-the-ground support with an unflinching push for a more humane national policy.—
Dev Patnaik,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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