Synonym Chooser

How is the word sane distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sane are judicious, prudent, sage, sapient, sensible, and wise. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

When might judicious be a better fit than sane?

In some situations, the words judicious and sane are roughly equivalent. However, judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When is prudent a more appropriate choice than sane?

While the synonyms prudent and sane are close in meaning, prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

In what contexts can sage take the place of sane?

While in some cases nearly identical to sane, sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

When is it sensible to use sapient instead of sane?

Although the words sapient and sane have much in common, sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When could sensible be used to replace sane?

The meanings of sensible and sane largely overlap; however, sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

Where would wise be a reasonable alternative to sane?

The synonyms wise and sane are sometimes interchangeable, but wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

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 sane The retaking of public space for some of our most cherished social functions was a godsend that kept a lot of people sane and was a boon for small businesses even after things started reopening. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 16 Apr. 2025 Toss in the idea of eternal repetition, of being condemned to relive a single experience in that loneliness is enough to make a murderer out of the most rational, sane individual. Steve Greene, IndieWire, 12 Apr. 2025 Five-star reviews are great, but putting Aimee Lou Wood’s life in danger is where any sane employer would draw the line. Eddie Mouradian, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2025 Critic’s Pick George Clooney makes Edward R. Murrow a saint of sane journalism for a world that still needs one in a stage adaptation of the 2005 movie. Jesse Green, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sane
Adjective
  • Deployments to the region are a demonstration of Australia's resolve to support an open, stable and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
    Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Apr. 2025
  • This channels air from the front to underneath, then over the hood and windscreen to keep it stable.
    Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Seeing the color Olo needed specific stimulation to push the vision beyond its normal limits.
    Terry Collins, USA Today, 24 Apr. 2025
  • Such intimidation may be normal in Putin's Russia, not in the civilized world!
    Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • In other words, could the question at the outset of the novel be applied today to the United States—a bastion of democratic strength being ripped apart by an erratic tyrant? Years ago, in one of his lucid columns, Vargas Llosa described the election of Donald Trump as a form of national suicide.
    Ilan Stavans, The Atlantic, 15 Apr. 2025
  • For a woman who had made a reputation as a lucid, sharp chronicler of the reality of American lives, Didion struggled with the irrational thoughts that flooded her mind afterward.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • The economic idea that people are purely rational, self-serving beings has been undermined by broad research over decades into psychology and behavioral economics.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • Listening to constituents, stakeholders, and community input to make our voices heard at the Council while balancing competing interests of other council members to bring rational discussion and mutual understanding to move ALL of Fort Worth Forward.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • But looking at the right benchmarks shows that post-neoliberal economic policy—evident to a large degree in the actions of the Biden administration—righted the ship and kept the country afloat and sailing at a reasonable clip.
    Jennifer M. Harris, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Read has pleaded not guilty, denied killing O'Keefe and alleged she is being framed, attempting to sow reasonable doubt in prosecutors' claims and asserting that someone else killed O'Keefe and had ties to and influence over the investigation.
    Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • With his speed, vision and run strength, the former Tar Heel brings a balanced mix of athleticism and physicality at contact.
    Dane Brugler, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
  • Add the Sonos Ace headphones to your aural arsenal for $100 less and surround your ears with lush, balanced audio and whisper-quiet ANC to hush bothersome background banter.
    Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • As a reliever who started the season healthy, Minter might not need that much time to build up.
    Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The Seeding Square is a sturdy plastic template that helps properly space seeds and seedlings for healthy plants and bountiful harvests.
    Miles Walls, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Parker rushes out to tell McGee, who's seeing Gibbs’ old truck in his parking place instead of his own sensible dad car.
    Sara Netzley, EW.com, 29 Apr. 2025
  • The Sky would be a sensible target for CHSN to improve its portfolio.
    Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sane. Accessed 4 May. 2025.

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