advisable

adjective

ad·​vis·​able əd-ˈvī-zə-bəl 

: fit to be advised or done : prudent

advisability

əd-ˌvī-zə-ˈbi-lə-tē 

noun

advisableness

əd-ˈvī-zə-bəl-nəs 

noun

advisably

əd-ˈvī-zə-blē 

adverb

Synonyms

• desirable
• expedient
• judicious
• politic
• prudent
• tactical
• wise

Choose the Right Synonym for advisable

expedient, politic, advisable mean dictated by practical or prudent motives.

expedient usually implies what is immediately advantageous without regard for ethics or consistent principles.

a politically expedient decision

politic stresses judiciousness and tactical value but usually implies some lack of candor or sincerity.

a politic show of interest

advisable applies to what is practical, prudent, or advantageous but lacks the derogatory implication of expedient and politic.

sometimes it's advisable to say nothing

Examples of advisable in a Sentence

My doctor said it was advisable for me to lose weight.

it's never advisable to ride double on a bicycle

Recent Examples on the Web

Excessive worry about risks and uncertainties is not advisable. —Jonathan Granoff, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025

Photographing or recording a video of the rooms in your home and any valuable belongings is advisable as a form of recordkeeping. —Cora Lewis, Los Angeles Times, 26 Jan. 2025

Even if the doctor just reiterates that solo travel isn’t advisable, ask for alternative strategies and ways of helping your mom to remember. —R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 22 Jan. 2025

Given the unmet expectations from 2024 — and other recent seasons before that — the wait-and-see approach is almost always more advisable than making grand declarations about the Bears’ future. True or false? —Dan Wiederer, Chicago Tribune, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

advise + -able

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

advisable

adjective

ad·​vis·​able əd-ˈvī-zə-bəl 

: reasonable or proper under the circumstances : wise, prudent

advisability

-ˌvī-zə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

noun

advisably

-ˈvī-zə-blē 

adverb