sage 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of sagenext
as in wise
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge a sage suggestion that anyone should think long and hard before deciding to marry

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

sage

2 of 2

noun

ˈsāj How to pronounce sage (audio)
as in scholar
a person of deep wisdom or learning the young prince made a pilgrimage to the sage, hoping to learn the meaning of life

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word sage distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sage are judicious, prudent, sane, sapient, sensible, and wise. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

When can judicious be used instead of sage?

The words judicious and sage can be used in similar contexts, but judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When would prudent be a good substitute for sage?

Although the words prudent and sage have much in common, prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

When could sane be used to replace sage?

The meanings of sane and sage largely overlap; however, sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

When is sapient a more appropriate choice than sage?

In some situations, the words sapient and sage are roughly equivalent. However, sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When might sensible be a better fit than sage?

While in some cases nearly identical to sage, sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

In what contexts can wise take the place of sage?

The synonyms wise and sage are sometimes interchangeable, but wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

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 sage
Noun
The 176 rooms make nice use of color—sage green walls, peach velour benches—plus separate lounge areas with an armchair and roomy desk. —Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 9 Sep. 2025 The color palette draws from the forest — deep greens, burgundy, grey, mahogany, and sage. —Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 The interiors are styled in beige, sage green, and yellow, and feature botanical accents, along with cushion covers and illustrations by local artist Lisa Strachan. —Heather Richardson, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2025 Kate Middleton received some sage advice from her grandfather-in-law, Prince Philip, before his death in 2021. —Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 6 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sage
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sage
  1. wise
  2. scholar
  3. prudent
Adjective
  • Either by choice or otherwise, Wolves lost seven players who appeared regularly in the first team last season and brought in six new faces, so numbers-wise, there is little difference.
    — Steve Madeley, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The measure further reduces offshore drilling, but the effort to compensate in a region that is highly dependent on the oil industry was a wise move.
    — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
Definition of wise
Noun
  • Multiple rights experts and scholars say Israel's military assault on Gaza amounts to genocide.
    — Jarrett Renshaw, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • An outer wall of the exhibit includes commentary through the centuries from great poets and scholars about the awe-inspiring site.
    — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Sep. 2025
Definition of scholar
Adjective
  • Some decisions are prudent, such as the Las Vegas Raiders to defeat the New England Patriots at a nice underdog price.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Sep. 2025
  • These nations have lowered taxes, reduced the size of the state and generally been fiscally prudent with sustainable debt/GDP levels – and their growth rates reflect these prudent decisions.
    — Alden Abbott, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Definition of prudent

Browse Nearby Words

sagas
sage
sagely
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Cite this Entry

“Sage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sage. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on sage

Nglish: Translation of sage for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sage

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