as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
pure horse sense should tell you it's dangerous to play with matches
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Recent Examples of horse sense
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
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
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
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse sense
Noun
-
He’s now deemed heroic in adhering to the Seven Virtues -- faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.—
Brian T. Allen,
National Review,
24 Apr. 2025
-
There is a fine line between prudence and penny-pinching.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Until Black Panther’s record breaking $235 million opening, conventional industry wisdom held that films with predominantly Black casts typically underperform financially overseas.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
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Socrates warned that putting words on paper would destroy memory, weaken wisdom, and dull the human mind.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
In a sense, this ichor functioned like a power source or electricity, circulating through the robot’s bronze limbs and fueling his movements and actions.—
Sofia Giannuzzi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Colts’ draft analysis • Mock draft analysis: Does TE still make the most sense in Round1?—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Different countries and regions have their own classification quirks, often leading to results that defy common sense.—
Aleksandra Bal,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Several of the court’s conservative members suggested an opt-out for sensitive subjects should be common sense.—
Devin Dwyer,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With a breezy wit displayed over his thirty-plus-year career (including his breakout commentary during the 2024 Olympics which cemented his global influence), the artist observed the rare confluence of holidays with a simple image of himself as the Easter Bunny on X, formerly Twitter.—
Jeanie Pyun,
HollywoodReporter,
20 Apr. 2025
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Maher, who has spent decades fine-tuning his brand of biting, socially charged humor to make sense of complex, often uncomfortable issues, brings a sharp wit that’s more thoughtful and layered than he’s often given credit for.—
Margie Warrell,
Forbes.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some were fearful for friends and family; others mourned a new era in American immigration policy.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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In Santa Cruz, several hundred people gathered at the corner of Ocean and Water streets at a busy intersection near the county government center to protest Trump and his policies.—
Harriet Blair Rowan,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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