sense 1 of 2

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
3
4
5

sense

2 of 2

verb

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

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 sense
Noun
But his script for the 1971 movie The Hospital displayed a righteous sense of indignation at the way the American health-care system failed its practitioners and its patients. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 21 Feb. 2026 So Bailey being linked to the Jets makes a lot of sense. Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2026
Verb
When damage occurs, whether as a crack, fracture, or microscopic defect, the material senses the disruption and activates an internal repair response. Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026 To make the new discovery, the team of researchers specifically analyzed data acquired from 1990 and 1992 by Magellan's Synthetic Aperture Radar remote-sensing instrument. Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 11 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sense
Noun
  • The feeling of dread only worsened as teammates carried her first to the sideline, where coaches and trainers eventually carried her to the locker room.
    Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
  • The fact that Zelensky’s wife Olena, along with their children Oleksandra and Kyrylo, also stay put, only underscored that feeling.
    Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 20 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Duncan will recur as Mimir, a cheery fellow from Celtic lands with an expansive intellect, a quick wit and a good head on his shoulders.
    Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 30 Jan. 2026
  • What came to him naturally was his intellect.
    Kevin Kruse, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • Posey seems to want to pass this off as prudence.
    Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Having both adequate owners’ capital against insolvency and deposit reserves against illiquidity were voluntary prudence early in this historical evolution.
    Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • While the fate of our Universe may be beyond us to control, the ability to give meaning to our own lives lies within each of us.
    Big Think, Big Think, 20 Feb. 2026
  • My parents have both passed away, and my birthday has always been a cherished day, filled with memories and meaning.
    Abigail Van Buren, Boston Herald, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • While China’s robotics companies have impressed viewers with their flashy kung-fu routines, the analyst said advances in reasoning, longer task durations, and the ability to chain multiple tasks together to perform different chores will matter more this year.
    Dylan Butts,Matthew Chin, CNBC, 20 Feb. 2026
  • Participants in the cognitive training groups completed memory, reasoning, or speed-of-processing tasks during 10 sessions lasting 60 to 75 minutes over five to six weeks.
    Julia Ries Wexler, Health, 19 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • And within the company it’s been business as usual, with few signs that anyone was feeling the heat.
    semafor.com, semafor.com, 16 Feb. 2026
  • Everybody buys groceries, and everyone has felt the increase in costs over the last few years.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • Senate faculty want to understand how the administration will balance the budget in ways that preserve the academic mission.
    Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Some people didn’t understand how someone like Van Der Beek didn’t leave his family enough money, even though the actor had spoken openly about his money struggles due to cancer treatments.
    Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 17 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The decision to keep Irving sidelined was anticipated, given the franchise turning the page with the midseason trade of Anthony Davis to prioritize the development of Cooper Flagg, their teenage sensation who’s positioned to take the reins of the franchise.
    Mike Curtis, Dallas Morning News, 18 Feb. 2026
  • Teenage sensation Iva Jovic (20th), Ostapenko (24th) and 2025 ATX Open singles and doubles runner-up McCartney Kessler (32nd) are also playing.
    Jay Plotkin, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sense. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on sense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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