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sage

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noun

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

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 sage
Noun
For Welch, go-to colors include pink, sage, and yellow, with accents of brown and terra-cotta. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Oct. 2024 Stuffing: Rye Whiskey’s Savory Edge Stuffing varies widely in flavors, from sage and thyme to meaty sausage or even fruits like apples and cranberries. Emily Price, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024 The dining room Thanksgiving dinner ($50 for adults, $20 for children) features slow-roasted turkey with gravy, brioche sage stuffing, French green beans with almonds, and cranberry-pear chutney, with Sam’s mashed potatoes for the table. Elaine Rewolinski, Journal Sentinel, 4 Nov. 2024 Variations to mix into the cooked, mashed potatoes: Freshly chopped herbs such as parsley, dill, sage and rosemary; roasted garlic; nonfat chicken broth instead of milk; favorite cheeses, shredded or crumbled. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 2 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for sage 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sage
Adjective
  • No one’s ever asked the kids up in the Grading The Week offices to help them with their taxes, but those wise apples sure know how to work a calculator.
    Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 9 Nov. 2024
  • Educating employees—especially those in finance roles—about the risks of fraudulent invoices and how to verify payment requests would be wise for organizations to prioritize in light of novel cyberattacks like this.
    Lars Daniel, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Lawyers and scholars would pass judgment, and cross-partisan pro-democracy coalitions would need to emerge to support and legitimize the states’ contentious actions.
    Jenna Bednar, Foreign Affairs, 5 Nov. 2024
  • According to the scholar Maria Tatar, these were folktales shared among adults after hours, while the children were asleep.
    Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • The company continues its strategy of maintaining a conservative capital structure with prudent leverage.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 8 Nov. 2024
  • And after the chaos Washington descended into following the 2020 election, analysts might be prudent to assume Trump wouldn’t take another loss without an intense battle.
    Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 5 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near sage

Cite this Entry

“Sage.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sage. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on sage

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