Wisdom & Intelligence Vocabulary

having keen mental discernment and good judgment

“The sagacious investor anticipated the market crash.”

Origin: Latin sagax `wise, prophetic` from sagire `to perceive keenly`

having an ability to accurately assess situations

“Her astute observations helped solve the problem.”

Origin: Latin astutus `crafty, shrewd` from astus `cunning`

having a ready insight into things; shrewd

“The perspicacious detective noticed what others missed.”

Origin: Latin perspicax `sharp-sighted, discerning` from perspicere `to see through`

having or showing good judgment

“A discerning reader will notice the subtle irony.”

Origin: Latin discernere `to separate, distinguish` from dis- `apart` + cernere `to sift`

having sharp powers of judgment; astute

“The shrewd negotiator secured favorable terms.”

Origin: Middle English shrewe `evil person, shrew` from Old English screawa `shrew-mouse`

having or showing great knowledge or learning

“The erudite professor could discuss any topic.”

Origin: Latin eruditus `learned` from ex- `out` + rudis `rude, untrained`

having much knowledge acquired by study

“The learned scholar published extensively on medieval history.”

Origin: Old English leornian `to get knowledge, study` from Proto-Germanic *liznojanan

wise or attempting to appear wise

“The sapient elder offered guidance to the village.”

Origin: Latin sapiens `wise, discerning` from sapere `to taste, be wise`

having or showing good judgment; sensible

“A judicious use of resources ensured the project's success.”

Origin: Latin judicium `judgment` from judex `judge` from jus `law` + dicere `to say`

having knowledge of events before they take place

“His prescient warning about the crisis went unheeded.”

Origin: Latin praescient- `knowing beforehand` from prae `before` + scire `to know`

knowing everything; having unlimited knowledge

“The omniscient narrator revealed each character's thoughts.”

Origin: Medieval Latin omniscient- from Latin omnis `all` + scire `to know`

having knowledge or awareness

“She was cognizant of the risks involved.”

Origin: Latin cognoscere `to know` from co- `together` + gnoscere `to know`

the ability to make good judgments and quick decisions

“Her business acumen made the company profitable.”

Origin: Latin acumen `sharpness, point` from acuere `to sharpen` from acus `needle`

shrewdness and practical knowledge

“His political savvy helped him navigate the bureaucracy.”

Origin: Spanish sabe `he knows` or French savez `you know` from Latin sapere `to be wise`

the quality of being sagacious; wisdom

“The leader's sagacity guided the nation through crisis.”

Origin: Latin sagacitas `keenness of perception` from sagax `wise, prophetic`

acting with care and thought for the future

“It would be prudent to save for emergencies.”

Origin: Latin prudent- `foreseeing, wise` from providere `to see ahead`

wary and unwilling to take risks

“She was circumspect about sharing personal details.”

Origin: Latin circumspectus `cautious` from circum `around` + specere `to look`

having or showing deep understanding

“His insightful analysis changed how we viewed the problem.”

Origin: Middle English from in `into` + sight from Old English gesihth `sight, vision`

having keen insight or understanding

“The perceptive child noticed her mother's sadness.”

Origin: Latin perceptivus from percipere `to seize, understand` from per- `through` + capere `to take`

using or based on intuition rather than conscious reasoning

“She had an intuitive understanding of human nature.”

Origin: Medieval Latin intuitivus from Latin intuitus `contemplation` from intueri `to look at`

intellectual rather than emotional or physical

“His cerebral approach to the problem yielded a unique solution.”

Origin: Latin cerebrum `brain` possibly from Proto-Indo-European *ker- `top of the head`

engaged in, involving, or reflecting deep or serious thought

“He looked pensive as he stared out the window.”

Origin: Old French pensif `thoughtful` from penser `to think` from Latin pensare `to weigh`