as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
an Oxford don who was long on erudition but a little short on everyday nous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 nous
His defensive nous has been questioned previously, but do not underestimate the work that the 22-year-old can get through.
—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous.
—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals.
—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
He's credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn't explain away Sevilla.
—
SI.com,
2 Oct. 2019
The industry will have to use its considerable commercial nous to hit its growth targets if Brexit provokes a deep rupture with the EU.
—
The Economist,
3 May 2018
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous.
—
Prashant Rao,
semafor.com,
8 Oct. 2025
Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals.
—
Zak Garner-Purkis,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
He's credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn't explain away Sevilla.
—
SI.com,
2 Oct. 2019
The industry will have to use its considerable commercial nous to hit its growth targets if Brexit provokes a deep rupture with the EU.
—
The Economist,
3 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nous
Noun
-
But not necessarily the knowledge, confidence or contacts to take it to next stage of monetization, strike collaborative partnerships or exercise operational prudence.
-
Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting.
Noun
-
But Russert says wisdom can help the political news landscape.
-
That's the kind of wisdom that takes a decade to build and one quarterly decision to permanently destroy.
Noun
-
Against that backdrop, some say the ships are offering a surprising sense of connection.
-
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Gonzalez’s small downtown team has scaled Happy Organics into a design-forward brand carried by major retailers, anchored in local maker communities and a sense of purpose.
Noun
-
To be sure, Maher’s ready wit and spontaneous repartee as a talk show host were central themes for the parade of chums who praised the honoree.
-
Jade stalked Chelsea, but Charlotte Flair interfered and hit Cargill wit the belt.
Noun
-
Forty ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, a number still significantly lower than the average daily crossings before the war with Iran started in February.
-
By allowing intelligence and learned capabilities to be shared across robot types, the platform aims to accelerate deployment, improve operational efficiency, and deliver a consistent experience across every aspect of hotel operations, claims Pudu.
Cite this Entry
“Nous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nous. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
