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.

There’s an old gambler’s aphorism beloved by wise souls from Amarillo Slim to Warren Buffett that warns: “If you look around the poker table and can’t identify the mark, it’s you.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

That’s the unsatisfying but wise lesson of “Sidewalk Nation”: It comes down to culture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

It’s hard to say that all the nuclear countries are led by level-headed, wise, deep-thinking people.

From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026

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

From BBC • Jun. 9, 2026

I could go be one of those mountaintop wise old guys you see in cartoons.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

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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