Definitions

wise

[wahyz] / waɪz /

ADJECTIVE

intelligent, reasonable

Synonyms

STRONGEST

astute aware careful educated enlightened experienced informed judicious knowledgeable perceptive prudent rational sagacious sane sensible smart thoughtful wary well-informed

STRONG

contemplative keen knowing sage sensing sharp sound understanding

WEAK

calculating clever cogitative crafty cunning discerning discreet erudite foresighted insightful intuitive perspicacious politic reflective sapient scholarly shrewd sophic tactful taught witty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

careless foolish heedless ignorant inattentive incautious indiscreet inexperienced irrational obtuse reckless senseless stupid thoughtless unaware uneducated uninformed unintelligent unknowledgeable unrealistic unreasonable unsophisticated unsound unwise

STRONG

idiotic

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.

"So he responded in the third person, which was probably quite a wise decision," Cullen said.

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

"It was a wise decision because Ebola spreads fast with such gatherings. We're now counting 19 cases and if the Martyrs Day celebration had happened, it would be in three digits now," Tedros said.

From Barron's • Jun. 8, 2026

This exquisite writer has once again delivered an incandescent work of fiction — sweet, but never sentimental, infinitely wise and suffused with love.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2026

Is it wise to invest it with a single firm?

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

“I gotta say, I don’t know if this is a wise use of your money.”

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

Vocabulary lists containing wise

"The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry

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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act III

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Bright Ideas: Synonyms For "Smart"

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