Synonyms of worldly-wise

worldly-wise

adjective

ˈwərl(d)-lē-ˌwīz 

as in sophisticated

having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience

her long career as a globe-trotting journalist has made her very worldly-wise

Synonyms & Similar Words

• sophisticated
• cosmopolitan
• worldly
• smart
• civilized
• polished
• bored
• cynical
• pragmatic
• cultured
• experienced
• sober
• seasoned
• urbane
• realistic
• suave
• cultivated
• skeptical
• knowing
• refined
• jaded
• schooled
• practiced
• down-to-earth

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• naive
• unsophisticated
• ingenuous
• guileless
• innocent
• untutored
• unworldly
• inexperienced
• green
• provincial
• callow
• parochial
• raw
• rustic
• wide-eyed
• childlike
• simple
• uncultured
• idealistic
• unrefined
• uncivilized
• simpleminded
• impractical
• uncritical
• unknowing
• philistine

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective worldly-wise differ from other similar words?

The words blasé and sophisticated are common synonyms of worldly-wise. While all three words mean "experienced in the ways of the world," worldly-wise suggests a close and practical knowledge of the affairs and manners of society and an inclination toward materialism.

a worldly-wise woman with a philosophy of personal independence

When can blasé be used instead of worldly-wise?

The meanings of blasé and worldly-wise largely overlap; however, blasé implies a lack of responsiveness to common joys as a result of a real or affected surfeit of experience and cultivation.

blasé travelers who claimed to have been everywhere

Where would sophisticated be a reasonable alternative to worldly-wise?

In some situations, the words sophisticated and worldly-wise are roughly equivalent. However, sophisticated often implies refinement, urbanity, cleverness, and cultivation.

guests at her salon were usually rich and sophisticated

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of worldly-wise

Crucially, they are grounded in real-world experiences, from a recent exchange with worldly-wise restaurant waitresses in Bordeaux exemplifying trust and collaboration, to the coaching of top CEOs over the past 20 years. — Hec Paris Insights, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Parroni does a good job of balancing the way that adolescents veer from experimenting with a worldly-wise cynicism and dipping back into the wildness of childhood. — Catherine Bray, Variety, 9 Sep. 2023

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