sense 1 of 2

noun

ˈsen(t)s How to pronounce sense (audio)
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

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
Imagining the depth of belief and the extremes of emotion that would motivate such difficult work puts one in touch with sense-making from the past. —Rivka Galchen, New Yorker, 7 Jan. 2026 Pairing them, like adding almonds to oatmeal, gives you balanced fuel and a sense of fullness. —Brianna Tobritzhofer, Health, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
Why pain-sensing skin matters for real-world robots Future service robots will need to work close to people. —Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 12 Jan. 2026 The Lakers have come into several games lacking their normal firepower this season, and the younger, deeper opponents who sense blood in the water have been taking advantage of those situations. —Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sense
  1. feeling
  2. intellect
  3. prudence
  4. meaning
  5. reasoning
  6. feel
  7. understand
  8. sensation
Noun
  • Tensions rise when Nora, a stage actress, rejects Gustav's offer to star in his comeback film and is forced to confront her feelings toward her estranged father.
    — Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
  • Hans Zimmer put his pedal to the metal while revealing his feelings about the last-minute decision to cut the Best Original Score category from the Golden Globes telecast.
    — Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Jan. 2026
Definition of feeling
Noun
  • The persecution of Trotsky and the Moscow Trials, which caused a rift in the American left, revealed the weakness of Cowley’s party-line political thinking, just as all his other work demonstrated the scope of his literary intellect.
    — Vince Passaro, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025
  • Mister Terrific emerges as one of Superman’s smartest anchors, threading intellect through a story preoccupied with power, trust, and what the world expects its heroes to be.
    — Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 30 Dec. 2025
Definition of intellect
Noun
  • Arnold’s original prudence was followed by overspending.
    — John Seiler, Oc Register, 15 Jan. 2026
  • Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.
    — Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 9 Jan. 2026
Definition of prudence
Noun
  • Explore philosophies that give you a better self-awareness and get you closer to the meaning of your life.
    — Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2026
  • For children ages 6 to 12, Common Sense Media advises to carefully consider if the AI toy would add value and meaning to their lives intellectually and emotionally.
    — Sarah Scott, Parents, 22 Jan. 2026
Definition of meaning
Noun
  • Her reasoning is frustrating, but understandable — her husband (Yao), now a vampire, is taunting her outside, and Remmick has threatened to kill her daughter back in town.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
  • The court did not explain its reasoning in the brief order, as is typical on its emergency docket.
    — Michael Casey, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Definition of reasoning
Verb
  • Saldaña has reason to feel good about keeping her box office crown, too.
    — Lauren Huff, Entertainment Weekly, 13 Jan. 2026
  • Update Your Bedding Swapping out your bedding for the winter is one of the easiest ways to make your bedroom feel warmer and cozier.
    — Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Definition of feel
Verb
  • The scientists want to further understand the impact of environmental and social conditions emerging in such livestock behaviors.
    — Leslie Katz, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
  • If anything, ChatGPT-3 has something of the oracular about it; for as mysterious as the writing process of any author may be in all sorts of intangible and ineffable ways, any person who works in words also understands what’s prosaic and gritty (and thus all the more beautiful) about writing.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of understand
Noun
  • Not only has the show become a sensation for the uninitiated in the romance genre, but most interestingly to me, it has been lauded as a near perfect example of the genre done right by keen romance lovers.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 Jan. 2026
  • Notice two physical sensations in your body (such as your feet on the floor or the weight of your body in a chair).
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Definition of sensation

Phrases Containing sense

Browse Nearby Words

sensations
sense
sensed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sense. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on sense

Nglish: Translation of sense for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about 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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

'Buck naked' or 'butt naked'?

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

Ten Kinds of Happiness

The Words of the Week - Jan. 23

Word of the Year 2025 | Slop

17 Words for Dog Breeds
See More

Popular

See More

What’s the difference between ‘cemetery’ and ‘graveyard’?

‘Fascism’: The Word’s Meaning and History

Ten Kinds of Happiness
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
spelunker-silhouette
People of Interest Quiz Can you tell the "sommeliers" from the "spelunkers"?
See All