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

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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

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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

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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

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

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sense

2 of 2

verb

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

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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

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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
Bikes like these would make a lot of sense from a sales perspective, considering the appeal of these models has never dulled in the motorcycle community. — New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026 Part of her vision is that juxtaposition of elements, and leaning into making her audience feel that sense of discomfort. — Marissa R. Moss, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
Verb
Elton John, a longtime friend of Stipe’s, broke his longstanding rule against giving out phone numbers to link up Watt and Stipe, sensing the two would enjoy a partnership. — Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2026 Roughly half of the 10 patients in the study had some vision restoration after researchers injected them with a gene to make their retina produce a light-sensing protein so that it could be manipulated. — O. Rose Broderick, STAT, 8 Oct. 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
  • Trump spent much of the first half of the rally — just 25 days before midterm elections that will determine whether Republicans can keep control of Congress — trying to talk past Americans’ gloomy feelings about the economy.
    — Sagar Meghani, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Both Presley and Paul tell Rolling Stone that this kind of social media narrative only works when people have strong feelings about it on both sides.
    — CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of feeling
Noun
  • Up until 1950, Señorita Rio uses her expert marksmanship, fencing skills, and keen intellect to fight Axis powers across South America.
    — Gaby Iori October 7, Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Tony has led at the highest levels of government, respected for his intellect, strategic vision and ability to bring people together around bold, forward-looking ideas.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of intellect
Noun
  • Notably, Marvell built some prudence into that spending guide, assuming the current rate of capex growth will moderate over the forecast period and move closer to historical levels in the out-years.
    — Jeff Marks, CNBC, 6 Oct. 2026
  • That might well be a sign of prudence on the part of fashion brands, which have been trying to boost full-price sales by not over-ordering inventory.
    — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of prudence
Noun
  • The expression has different meanings across cultures, rarely referring to its literal translation.
    — Annika Pham, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026
  • What begins as an extreme pursuit becomes an intimate journey into obsession, mortality and the search for meaning.
    — Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of meaning
Noun
  • The new letter warns that the industry doesn't yet know how to safely build and deploy models whose reasoning process can't be monitored.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Such knowledge will be important in the future if, for example, a fraud regulator wants to determine the reasoning behind an agent’s recommendation to take no further action on suspicious activity.
    — Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of reasoning
Verb
  • The kitchen is tucked away in the back, but the skylight keeps it from feeling too cavelike.
    — Matthew Sedacca, Curbed, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The coupling of violence with law and order is ever present in the agent’s recollections, but tonally, the show feels light.
    — Stephanie Wambugu, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of feel
Verb
  • If a degree needs to equip students for life outside of college, then a big part of that is understanding what employers are looking for.
    — Reynald Fasciaux, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
  • In addition to developing better medicines or perfumes, deciphering the mirror images of molecules can help scientists understand the chemical architecture of life, said chemist Holden Thorp, editor-in-chief of the journal Science.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of understand
Noun
  • Tasting rye involves a combination of sensations, including the nose, palate, mouthfeel, and finish.
    — Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Truman even created a fashion sensation during his visits, sporting Hawaiian and loud summer shirts that caught on in the rest of the country.
    — Luisa Yanez October 7, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sensation

Phrases Containing sense

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sensations
sense
sensed
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Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sense. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sense

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sense

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