Synonyms of sense

sense 1 of 2

noun

ˈsen(t)s 

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

• feeling
• feel
• sensation
• impression
• perception
• touch
• suggestion
• hint

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

• intellect
• intelligence
• reason
• brain(s)
• intellectuality
• mentality
• talent
• smarts
• gray matter
• brainpower
• insight
• aptitude
• wit
• mind
• wisdom
• brilliance
• perception
• headpiece
• intellectualism
• apprehension
• judgment
• discernment
• alertness
• acumen
• astuteness
• braininess
• perspicacity
• common sense
• percipience
• horse sense
• sagacity
• discriminability
• highbrowism
• sapience
• eggheadedness
• mother wit
• skull
• head

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• density
• slowness
• dullness
• idiocy
• stupidity
• foolishness
• dumbness
• senselessness
• imbecility
• feeblemindedness
• denseness
• dopiness
• fatuity
• simpleness
• doltishness
• half-wittedness

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

• prudence
• wisdom
• wit
• discretion
• intelligence
• insight
• common sense
• policy
• brains
• horse sense
• sensibleness
• gumption
• logicality
• discreetness
• judgment
• levelheadedness
• nous
• practicality
• caution
• logicalness
• rationality
• foresight
• foresightedness
• gray matter
• discernment
• discrimination
• sagacity
• street smarts
• acumen
• farsightedness
• care
• penetration
• astuteness
• shrewdness
• perspicacity
• circumspection
• sapience
• precaution
• forethoughtfulness
• keenness
• clearheadedness
• forehandedness
• premeditation
• rationalness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• indiscretion
• imprudence
• stupidity
• idiocy
• carelessness
• foolishness
• shortsightedness
• senselessness
• heedlessness
• unreasonableness
• brainlessness
• half-wittedness

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

• meaning
• significance
• intention
• content
• intent
• definition
• import
• connotation
• implication
• theme
• message
• nature
• drift
• signification
• indication
• denotation
• purport
• suggestion
• essence
• hint
• clue
• spirit
• stuff
• motive
• tenor
• topic
• soul
• acceptance
• inkling
• cue
• matter
• question
• intimation
• heart
• burden
• point
• subject
• core
• nucleus
• kernel
• marrow
• gist
• essentiality
• bottom
• acceptation
• motif
• crux
• pith
• quick
• nub

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

• reasoning
• logic
• reason
• intellection
• logicality
• ratiocination
• coherence
• argumentation
• logicalness
• rationality
• persuasiveness
• cogency
• analysis
• synthesis
• deduction
• dissection
• convincingness
• syllogism
• rationalness
• induction
• disputation

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• incoherence
• illogic
• absurdity
• insanity
• irrationality
• senselessness
• preposterousness
• brainlessness
• nonsensicalness

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

• feel
• see
• smell
• notice
• perceive
• taste
• hear
• realize
• sight
• expect
• scent
• note
• anticipate
• look (at)
• discover
• discern
• view
• eye
• guess
• learn
• remark
• ascertain
• regard
• divine
• suspect
• suppose
• foresee
• witness
• distinguish
• find out
• observe
• behold
• assume
• presume
• spy
• speculate
• descry
• espy
• surmise
• catch on (to)
• conjecture
• foreknow

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

• understand
• know
• appreciate
• grasp
• recognize
• decipher
• comprehend
• see
• realize
• perceive
• get
• discern
• make
• conceive
• apprehend
• assimilate
• compass
• seize
• tumble (to)
• dig
• intuit
• make out
• behold
• register
• cotton (to or on to)
• catch on (to)
• savvy
• grok
• decode
• twig
• catch
• pick up on
• cognize
• fathom
• absorb
• digest
• take in
• penetrate
• pierce

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• miss
• misunderstand
• mistake
• misread
• misinterpret
• misconstrue
• misconceive
• misapprehend
• misperceive

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

Recent Examples of sense

Noun

To give a sense of how little has changed in 34 years in some ways, she was asked by this newspaper how to improve Broward public schools in 1992. —Steve Bousquet, Sun Sentinel, 2 May 2026

In that sense, The Apple Tree Under the Sea shares a theatrical ease of access with This Music May Contain Hope. —Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2026

Verb

Jim Mora could sense the excitement in Justin Joly’s voice, as if the lanky teenager was ready to hurdle himself through the phone. —Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Hoping to speed things along, the CEA-Leti team came up with a different way of sensing spins. —IEEE Spectrum, 30 Apr. 2026

Phrases Containing sense

• common sense
• horse sense
• sixth sense