sense 1 of 2

noun

Definition of sensenext
1
as in feeling
an indefinite physical response to a stimulus a strange sense of discomfort brought on by the room's strong colors

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in intellect
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems although he has little formal education, he is a man of considerable practical sense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters you have the sense to handle anything that comes up

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in meaning
the idea that is conveyed or intended to be conveyed to the mind by language, symbol, or action got the general sense of the poem

Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in reasoning
the thought processes that have been established as leading to valid solutions to problems your argument simply shows no sense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sense

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to feel
to have a vague awareness of the deer seemed to sense danger

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to understand
to have a clear idea of I did not sense the full meaning of his cryptic warning until much later

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sense are common sense, judgment, and wisdom. While all these words mean "ability to reach intelligent conclusions," sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

Where would common sense be a reasonable alternative to sense?

The words common sense and sense can be used in similar contexts, but common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

When would judgment be a good substitute for sense?

Although the words judgment and sense have much in common, judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

In what contexts can wisdom take the place of sense?

In some situations, the words wisdom and sense are roughly equivalent. However, wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Phrases Containing sense

Thesaurus Entries Near sense

sensations

sense

sensed

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sense. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on sense

Nglish: Translation of sense for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of sense for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sense

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Word Games

a group of lemurs
Name That Animal: Volume 2 Can you tell a meerkat from a wombat?
hedgehog reading a book
Challenging Words You Should Know Not a quiz for the pusillanimous
Name That Thing
Name That Thing You know what it looks like… but what is it cal...
winning words from the national spelling bee logo
Spelling Bee Quiz Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...