prudent

[prood-nt] / ˈprud nt /

ADJECTIVE

wise, sensible in action and thought

Synonyms

STRONGEST

careful cautious discreet economical frugal judicious reasonable sane shrewd vigilant

WEAK

advisable canny circumspect discerning far-sighted hedging one's bets judgmatic leery playing safe politic provident sagacious sage sapient sound sparing tactical thinking twice thrifty wary

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless expensive foolish hasty inattentive incautious indiscreet nonsensical rash reckless stupid thoughtless uncareful uneconomical unreasonable wasteful

WEAK

imprudent unwise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But inflation has ticked up since, leaving Fed watchers to wonder whether the latest easing cycle was prudent or misguided.

From Barron's • Apr. 24, 2026

"Recent events are encouraging, even if we have to remain prudent," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026

So general manager Ken Holland did the prudent thing and largely stood pat, trading a couple of veterans for draft picks and making only a pair of minor acquisitions.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

RBI Gov. Sanjay Malhotra said the monetary board judged it prudent to wait, citing the war’s likely impairment of economic activity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

Until he knew how matters stood here, it was more prudent to play the common sailor, not the lord.

From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin

Vocabulary lists containing prudent

100 Top "SAT" Words

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

The Hobbit

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Grade 10, List 4

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!