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 Those things are what keep me emotionally sane—and therapy. Sam Reed, Glamour, 3 Apr. 2025 Elice and Martin lean on Ivy so hard to provide the drama that the other characters get away with looking relatively sane. Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025 Anderson finished the seventh at 108 pitches, a great outing that should have ended his day in a sane and rational world. Keith Law, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025 After more than 19 hours, the jury ultimately agreed that Fiorenza was sane at the time of the murder and deserved to be executed. Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, 5 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sane
Adjective
  • They’re made with a contoured footbed packed with arch support, as well as a deep heel cup to keep your feet stable.
    Rylee Johnston, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2025
  • Temperatures are all maintained and stable in all steps.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Command that eluded McCullers across his first two appearances started to creep back toward normal.
    Chandler Rome, New York Times, 17 May 2025
  • To her credit, Sepideh is aware enough to own the surreal gulf between what to her is a normal life and what has become Fatma’s normal life.
    Sophie Monks Kaufman, IndieWire, 17 May 2025
Adjective
  • Liz joins an experiment that revives emotions via lucid memories.
    John Hopewell, Variety, 8 May 2025
  • Psychologists slowly came around, conducting research and tapping into patients’ lucid dreaming capacity for therapeutic purposes.
    Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 21 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • What’s more, behavioral economics suggests that our deviations from rational, deliberate behavior has some predictable structure.
    Jens Ludwig, Time, 15 May 2025
  • The ban on water fluoridation by the Florida Legislature (SB 700) and the outspoken views of the state surgeon general are the antithesis of rational public health measures.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2025
Adjective
  • This level needs to be reasonable and proportionate to the risk.
    Mark Littler, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025
  • There is a very reasonable bet that something like this happens.
    Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Charlotte has had a balanced offensive attack in the series as Ben Steeves has three goals and William Skoog two to lead the Checkers and six others have one goal apiece..
    Richard Walker, Charlotte Observer, 10 May 2025
  • Cam McCarthy led a balanced attack with four goals and an assist as St. John’s Prep (14-1) defeated St. John’s Shrewsbury 18-3 in the Catholic Conference.
    Kristina Banahan, Boston Herald, 10 May 2025
Adjective
  • But Prasad and Makary say the studies are needed to provide evidence that annual shots for healthy younger Americans are evidence-based.
    Michael Erman, USA Today, 21 May 2025
  • Change the water every day or two to keep the roots healthy.
    The New York Times, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • With any luck these sensible changes will not be casualties of Trump’s high-risk omnibus strategy.
    Matt Fleming, Oc Register, 10 May 2025
  • Another year for Howard, who made nine league starts due to injury and loss of form among his younger peers, seems sensible, along with a loan elsewhere for Luke McNicholas.
    Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 9 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sane. Accessed 24 May. 2025.

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