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
-
Over and over again, the owners opt for organizational stagnation and attempt to disguise it as prudence.—
Jerry Brewer,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
-
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
Noun
-
If affordability is today’s most pressing challenge, lawmakers must not confuse volume with wisdom, and instead confront the policies that continue to drive high costs and limit opportunity.—
Carol Platt Liebau,
Hartford Courant,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Just as Clinton Edgar Woods saw the wisdom of combining the advantages of gasoline and electric power, so today’s hybrids could serve as a bridge while battery technology and charging infrastructure continue to mature.—
Bill Gourgey,
Popular Science,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
This piece leans into the jewelry aspect of watch-making, exuding a sense of opulence perfect for a night out.—
John Monaco,
InStyle,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Although many modern artists have used collage to navigate and interpret the impersonal detritus of mass culture, Canty’s work, with its understated sense of place, is quite different.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
From Nigel Kneale's Quatermass through to Doctor Who, UK science fiction has a character all its own, combining small island sensibilities and anxieties with a dash of British wit.—
Chris McMullen,
Space.com,
4 Feb. 2026
-
That’s one of my favorite date things to do, play chess and match wits with a lady.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Benedict Cumberbatch will undoubtedly bring the intelligence, depth, and moral complexity this role demands.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
3 Feb. 2026
-
These ultraintelligent children, affectionately dubbed Termites, grew into generally healthy and successful adults who finished college, registered patents, and published papers at far higher rates than their counterparts of average intelligence.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nous. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026.
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