as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
an Oxford don who was long on erudition but a little short on everyday nous
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Recent Examples of nous
The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous.
—
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
He's credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn't explain away Sevilla.
—SI.com, 2 Oct. 2019
The industry will have to use its considerable commercial nous to hit its growth targets if Brexit provokes a deep rupture with the EU.
—The Economist, 3 May 2018
Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025
He's credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn't explain away Sevilla.
—SI.com, 2 Oct. 2019
The industry will have to use its considerable commercial nous to hit its growth targets if Brexit provokes a deep rupture with the EU.
—The Economist, 3 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nous
Noun
-
China by contrast is beginning to look like a model of prudence and responsibility.—
Anatol Lieven,
Twin Cities,
10 Apr. 2026
-
Austria retained possession of Venetia, and prudence dictated to the delegates at the Congress of Vienna that continued Austrian predominance in Italy should guarantee the peninsula against French influence.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Blashill wouldn’t reveal his words of wisdom, though.—
Kalen Lumpkins,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
All the wisdom comes from the staff’s hive mind and veteran New Yorkers with discerning taste.—
The Editors,
Curbed,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The story is something of a palimpsest, with Romvari’s own perspective intertwining with the character’s and conveying a sense of being both inside and outside the action.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2026
-
What’s left is a false sense of urgency that will lead to a budget finalized mostly in the dark, with too many decisions made by staffers and lobbyists.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Charlie's Angels centered on three private investigators who, under orders from their enigmatic but never visible boss, Charlie Townsend, solved cases together using their wits and style.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
11 Apr. 2026
-
Use your quick wit when asking questions to avoid accidentally offending anyone.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The military had recourse to Claude via a drop-down menu in a workflow package, the Maven Smart System, which gathers, synthesizes, and streamlines intelligence.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
15 Apr. 2026
-
The package includes long-range strike drones, intelligence and reconnaissance drones, logistics drones and maritime capabilities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nous. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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