prudence

1 a close attentiveness to avoiding danger advised to use some old-fashioned prudence when agreeing to meet face-to-face with an online acquaintance Synonyms alertness, care, carefulness, cautiousness, chariness, circumspection, gingerliness, guardedness, heedfulness, caution, warinessRelated Words attentiveness, observance, vigilance, watchfulness; foresight, foresightedness, providence; calculation, canniness, deliberateness, deliberation, shrewdnessNear Antonyms abruptness, hastiness, impetuousness, precipitousness, rashness, suddenness; inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessnessAntonyms brashness, carelessness, heedlessness, incaution, incautiousness, recklessness, unwariness

2 suitability for bringing about a desired result under the circumstances prudence would call for a little more caution in such a delicate situation Synonyms advisability, advisableness, desirability, desirableness, expedience, judiciousness, expediency, wisdomRelated Words advantageousness, beneficialness, profitability; feasibility, practicality, usefulness; opportuneness, seasonableness, timelinessNear Antonyms impracticality, infeasibility; inopportuneness, unseasonableness, untimelinessAntonyms imprudence, inadvisability, inexpedience, inexpediency, injudiciousness, unwisdom

3 the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters in the long run, prudence will pay off more often than taking wild risks Synonyms discreetness, discretion, gumption [chiefly dialect], horse sense, levelheadedness, nous [chiefly British], policy, common sense, sense, sensibleness, wisdom, witRelated Words street smarts; farsightedness, forehandedness, foresight, foresightedness, forethoughtfulness, judgment (or judgement); brains, gray matter, intelligence; logicality, logicalness, practicality, rationality, rationalness; discernment, discrimination, insight, sagacity, sapience; acumen, astuteness, clearheadedness, keenness, penetration, perspicacity, shrewdness; care, caution, circumspection, precaution, premeditationNear Antonyms shortsightedness; brainlessness, foolishness, half-wittedness, idiocy, senselessness, stupidity; carelessness, heedlessness; unreasonablenessAntonyms imprudence, indiscretion