First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
prudent
adjective pru·dent \ˈprü-dənt\
: having or showing careful good judgment
Full Definition of PRUDENT
: characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: as a : marked by wisdom or judiciousness <prudent advice> b : shrewd in the management of practical affairs <prudent investors> c : marked by circumspection : discreet d : provident, frugal
— pru·dent·ly adverb
See prudent defined for English-language learners
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Examples of PRUDENT
- An endless war is not always the most moral or the most prudent course of action. —Richard A. Posner, New Republic, 2 Sept. 2002
- We missed the Mass for St. Rose of Lima, who, though prudent, had failed to be martyred and was therefore only second-string. —Darryl Pinckney, High Cotton, 1992
- Prudent burners take several precautions. Burning one of two bordering fields, they wet the edge of one or the other, usually the one being burned, to prevent the flames from jumping. —Alec Wilkinson, Big Sugar, 1989
- Since the inexplicable power of a magnetized needle to “find” the north smacked of black magic … . For many decades the prudent sea captain consulted his compass secretly. —Daniel J. Boorstin, The Discoverers, 1983
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Origin of PRUDENT
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prudent-, prudens, contraction of provident-, providens — more at provident
Related to PRUDENT
- Synonyms
- intelligent, judgmatic (or judgmatical), judicious, discreet
- Antonyms
- imprudent, indiscreet, injudicious
Synonym Discussion of PRUDENT
wise, sage, sapient, judicious, prudent, sensible, sane mean having or showing sound judgment. wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them <wise beyond his tender years>. sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom <the sage advice of my father>. sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment <the sapient musings of an old philosopher>. judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions <judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure>. prudent suggests exercise of the restraint of sound practical wisdom and discretion <a prudent decision to wait out the storm>. sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality <a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery>. sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness <remained sane even in times of crises>.
Rhymes with PRUDENT
PRUDENT Defined for Kids
prudent
adjective pru·dent \ˈprü-dənt\
Definition of PRUDENT for Kids
: wise and careful in action or judgment
— pru·dent·ly adverb
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