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prudent

adjective
pru·​dent | \ ˈprü-dᵊnt How to pronounce prudent (audio) \

Definition of prudent

: characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: such 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
Other Words from prudent Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym It Is Prudent to Read Up on This Word History Example Sentences Learn More about prudent

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Other Words from prudent

prudently adverb

Choose the Right Synonym for 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 the exercise of restraint guided by 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

It Is Prudent to Read Up on This Word History

Prudent arrived in Middle English around the 14th century and traces back, by way of Middle French, to the Latin verb providēre, meaning "to see ahead, foresee, provide (for). "Providēre" combines pro-, meaning "before, and vidēre, meaning "to see, and it may look familiar to you; it is also the source of our "provide," "provident," "provision," and "improvise." "Vidēre" also has many English offspring, including "evident," "supervise," "video," and "vision."

Examples of prudent in a Sentence

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 He always listened to her prudent advice. You made a prudent choice.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Where Israelis are divided, however, is on whether throwing in Israel’s lot with Trump and the Republican Party was prudent to begin with. — Ruth Margalit, The New Yorker, "What Israeli and Palestinian Activists Had Hoped to Tell Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib," 20 Aug. 2019 Penney’s debt approach is prudent, said Debtwire senior analyst Philip Emma. — Maria Halkias, Dallas News, "Where does J.C. Penney's turnaround stand? It's testing new ideas in Texas," 26 July 2019 Customers are being more prudent with inventories because of the uncertain geopolitical trade situation. — NBC News, "Big week for earnings as Wall Street watches for weakness," 23 July 2019 Watching crazy weather unfold around the world this summer so that people can be ready for it next summer is only prudent—build more shade, plant more trees, strengthen levees and build better water management strategies. — Adam Rogers, WIRED, "This Summer's Weird Weather Is the Death of Predictability," 8 July 2019 Buying short-term bonds can be prudent in a rising interest rate environment, Hagensen says. — Tamara E. Holms, USA TODAY, "Fixed-income investments like bonds aim for steady income, lower risk in your portfolio," 17 June 2019 Montclair State University political science professor Brigid Harrison said Republicans are likely being prudent with their campaign contributions at this stage. — Mike Catalini, The Seattle Times, "Democrats running for Congress see fundraising spike," 21 Apr. 2018 Barack Obama is, as of this writing, maintaining an absolutely prudent and practically monastic silence on the 2020 Democratic primary. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, "Joe Biden, Designated White Guy," 13 Aug. 2019 Both men may have not been prudent in their tweets. — Elaine Ayala, ExpressNews.com, "Blunt Twitter talk from an archbishop and a congressman," 8 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'prudent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of prudent

14th century, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for prudent

Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prudent-, prudens, contraction of provident-, providens — more at provident

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More Definitions for prudent

prudent

adjective
How to pronounce prudent (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of prudent

: having or showing careful good judgment

See the full definition for prudent in the English Language Learners Dictionary

prudent

adjective
pru·​dent | \ ˈprü-dᵊnt How to pronounce prudent (audio) \

Kids Definition of prudent

: wise and careful in action or judgment

Other Words from prudent

prudently adverb

prudent

adjective
pru·​dent | \ ˈprüd-ᵊnt

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