sense 1 of 2

1
as in feeling
an indefinite physical response to a stimulus a strange sense of discomfort brought on by the room's strong colors

Synonyms & Similar Words

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sense

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun sense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of sense are common sense, judgment, and wisdom. While all these words mean "ability to reach intelligent conclusions," sense implies a reliable ability to judge and decide with soundness, prudence, and intelligence.

a choice showing good sense

Where would common sense be a reasonable alternative to sense?

The words common sense and sense can be used in similar contexts, but common sense suggests an average degree of such ability without sophistication or special knowledge.

common sense tells me it's wrong

When would judgment be a good substitute for sense?

Although the words judgment and sense have much in common, judgment implies sense tempered and refined by experience, training, and maturity.

they relied on her judgment for guidance

In what contexts can wisdom take the place of sense?

In some situations, the words wisdom and sense are roughly equivalent. However, wisdom implies sense and judgment far above average.

a leader of rare wisdom

Examples 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 sense
Noun
Creating the sense of a multiverse of experiences, even within a set of documentary stories, is a big challenge for a documentary that clocks in under 90 minutes. Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 5 Nov. 2024 With the new year right around the corner, Lopez hopes to maintain a sense of balance, but also to grow. Jackie Fields, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
Among a handful of engineering hurdles involved in opening that window, the highest would be putting a heavy object into its ground state and sensing it jumping to its next-lowest-energy state. Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024 Starting in early 1944, most generals sensed the inevitability of defeat and wanted to plan damage control. Nina Turner, Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sense 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sense
Noun
  • Don’t limit yourself for the sake of someone else’s feelings; do what’s best for you.
    Eugenia Last, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Perhaps that can be found in a moment that’s less about feeling and more about action.
    Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • With a gifted intellect and a solid work ethic, her genuine kindness truly sets her apart.
    Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Digital capitalism thrives on exploiting users’ time, intellect, and data.
    Gerui Wang, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • What Are The Candidates Missing? Healthcare spending has ballooned to levels that defy fiscal prudence, but healthcare dollars aren’t going to the people who provide it.
    Richard Menger MD MPA, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
  • The market may have wanted a more upbeat outlook for 2025 to support analysts’ projections of low-double-digit percentage earnings growth, but Danaher is known for its conservatism and prudence regarding forward guidance.
    Jeff Marks, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • When people are made aware of death, those systems of meaning become even more critical to their psychological functioning.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
  • In the movie, a well meaning but rather inept angel named Gabriel (Reeves) meddles in the lives of a struggling gig worker (Ansari) and a wealthy capitalist (Rogen).
    Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • His reasoning is that Tesla’s product will encourage more consumers to become more interested in driver-assist features — and boost Deeproute’s prominence in the sector.
    Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Bob Dylan, of course, will never give us any answers about the reasoning behind his mystifying Twitter feed.
    Devon Ivie, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Purdy, however, felt McCaffrey’s impact was obvious.
    Jerry McDonald, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
  • For many people, denying the existence of a climate crisis is not only convenient but may feel psychologically necessary.
    Discover Magazine, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • If not, it’s understood that the host will treat the group.
    Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 13 Nov. 2024
  • The opportunity to understand what went wrong vanished when Onyxx was cremated.
    Audrey Dutton, ProPublica, 11 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The spiral toy is designed to rest against your clit, while the internal nub creates a sensation of buzzy fullness.
    Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 3 Nov. 2024
  • As if a world so placid and unresponsive could excite only the opposite sensations in him.
    Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near sense

Cite this Entry

“Sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sense. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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