Definition of sagaciousnext

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective sagacious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sagacious are astute, perspicacious, and shrewd. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

In what contexts can astute take the place of sagacious?

The synonyms astute and sagacious are sometimes interchangeable, but astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When is perspicacious a more appropriate choice than sagacious?

The words perspicacious and sagacious can be used in similar contexts, but perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When can shrewd be used instead of sagacious?

While the synonyms shrewd and sagacious are close in meaning, shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sagacious The simplification of this rallying cry points to the exhibition’s sagacious curatorial focus. Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 Harper’s has been a sagacious and elegant presence in all this for a very long time, since there were giants on the earth, Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville. Literary Hub, 26 Nov. 2025 Morris Chestnut Logline: As the fate of the earth hangs perilously in the balance, Bandi a sagacious elder embarks on a crucial mission to locate Tep one of the few legitimate descendants of an ancient extraterrestrial power, tracing back to a small tribe in Africa. Zac Ntim, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2024 Foster a balanced approach: While data can provide valuable insights at scale, integrating human judgment and industry expertise ensures a sagacious, well-rounded, and likely more ethical strategic investment approach. Douglas B. Laney, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 All that Manuel’s sagacious head coach Victor Valenzuela can do now is fine-tune his fighter’s composure. Ben Wyatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2023 The story, which reads as a simple recitation of the facts, portrays the decision to use the bomb as one made with sagacious care. Andy Kifer, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2023 In the eye-popping sci-fi epic, Winslet plays the sagacious Ronal, an alien queen and healer who leads the oceanic Metkayina clan. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2022 Her character’s backstory is a compelling narrative that the franchise aims to explore over the series: Raised in Harlem with the guidance of a sagacious grandmother, Lally learned of the traditional magic that existed in her family bloodline despite their living in the nonmagical world. Shamira Ibrahim, Essence, 6 Apr. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sagacious
Adjective
  • Gardens of all sizes include water-wise, ornamental and edible plants, natives, succulents, views, chickens, canyons, orchards and more.
    Martina Schimitschek, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
  • Chief among them is the late and especially great Dame Maggie Smith, who gave one of her most powerful and enduring performances as the prim and wise Violet Crawley.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • The Bar was prudent to not pursue that.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
  • Any responsible deployment of AI in classified environments should involve layered safeguards including a prudent safety stack, limits on deployment architecture, and the direct involvement of AI experts in consequential AI use cases.
    Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Hyper focused on delivering timely news, insightful analysis and revealing data, Sourcing Journal is empowering industry leaders to make informed business decisions.
    Footwear News, Footwear News, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The interview wasn’t terribly insightful — the host seemed more interested in congratulating Panahi for being a hero than in exploring the context for that heroism.
    Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 5 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Sagacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sagacious. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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