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common sense

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun common sense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of common sense are judgment, sense, and wisdom. While all these words mean "ability to reach intelligent conclusions," common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

Where would judgment be a reasonable alternative to common sense?

While the synonyms judgment and common sense are close in meaning, judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

When would sense be a good substitute for common sense?

The synonyms sense and common sense are sometimes interchangeable, but sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

In what contexts can wisdom take the place of common sense?

The words wisdom and common sense are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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 commonsense
Noun
But that certainty, driven by common sense, time, and emotional self-preservation, has been shaken by the faint glimmer of hope from his Innie’s desperate cries. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Jan. 2025 There is truth to this, but the numbers remain jarring, testing the common sense of sports fans and the patience of opponents. Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 23 Jan. 2025 The Trump Administration will not tie the hands of our brave law enforcement and instead trusts them to use common sense. Raul A. Reyes, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025 Most notably, a trade involving Bradley Beal going to Milwaukee, Butler going to Phoenix and at least one other team being involved besides Miami, seems highly plausible, based both on reporting by my intrepid colleagues at The Athletic and the common sense of looking at a cap sheet. John Hollinger, The Athletic, 22 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for commonsense 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for commonsense
Adjective
  • The policy becomes logical when considering the incubation periods of STDs and how those timelines differ between illnesses.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 24 Jan. 2025
  • In the absence of that, there may be a need for an arbiter, with Igbokwe and Berwick’s boss, Langley, as the logical choice.
    Peter White, Deadline, 24 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • That prudence paid off earlier this week when China’s DeepSeek unveiled its free AI open-source technology.
    Jeff Kilburg, CNBC, 31 Jan. 2025
  • For decades afterward, the 1984 defeat revived Liberal prudence: Don’t overdo things.
    David Frum, The Atlantic, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The moves alienated longtime shoppers who valued Kohl’s for its quality clothes at reasonable prices.
    Maria Sole Campinoti, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
  • All of this could have been avoided with any number of reasonable, common-sense approaches to addressing homebuilding on a statewide basis.
    Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Art was also full of wisdom with an impeccable memory and mind that was sharp as a tack, right up until the very end.
    Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
  • With top talents across fashion, beauty, PR, styling, and more sharing their greatest words of wisdom, there’s just so much invaluable advice to absorb.
    Vogue Club, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • And not much tension is built into the film before then — just a long list of odd incidents without any sense of rising action.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Jan. 2025
  • Hitting southern markets makes strategic sense, says Maris Croswell, CEO of Spruce, because that’s where potential customers will be thinking about the challenge of getting their lawns ready for Spring, since the weather in February will be warmer there.
    Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • But the relationship leads to serious conversations about the most sensible outcome of all: a bicoastal merger of the conferences.
    Jon Wilner, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Martin and county transit leaders say the project makes far smarter and financially sensible use of the bus station’s existing 12 acres of surface parking and the second, 33-acre piece of former farmland, which the county transit agency also owns.
    Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 22 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Our people have a horse sense for what good work is.
    Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
  • His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
    Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
Adjective
  • As brutal as the action looks on the surface, there is some rational trading taking place, even if some of the moves in individual stocks end up being overdone.
    Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2025
  • Our rational impulses are so automatic, and so strong, that we’re now faced with the problem of what to do with the irrational.
    Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near commonsense

common schools

commonsense

common sense

Cite this Entry

“Commonsense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/commonsense. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.

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