as in prudence
the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters
pure horse sense should tell you it's dangerous to play with matches
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Recent Examples of horse sense
Our people have a horse sense for what good work is.
—
Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
Beth Greenfield, Fortune, 1 July 2024
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Valerie Fraser Luesse, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2024
My bet is that Smith has that political horse sense.
—Michael Tomasky, The New Republic, 8 June 2023
But Lord knows, there’s a mountain of acumen and perspicacity or, in plain terms, good horse sense stored in those minds and souls.
—Gordon Monson, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Jan. 2023
Back in 2011, Daniels, a former Bush White House official and two-term Indiana governor known for his conservative horse sense and low-key manner, passed on a White House run and went on to accept the Purdue presidency.
—Frederick Hess, Forbes, 16 June 2022
In an age when Hollywood’s highest-profile parent-child relationship is that between Britney Spears and her father, what could be more refreshing than the homespun horse sense of the Howard boys?
—Peter Tonguette, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2021
People have many ways of talking about intuition: gut, nose, sixth sense, horse sense, Spidey-sense.
—Steve Kolowich, Washington Post, 20 June 2019
His words of wisdom are tinged with wit and old-fashioned horse sense.
—Southern Living, 14 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for horse sense
Noun
-
Otherwise, there needs to be prudence, since the Heat are poised to potentially get back in the cap-space race in the 2026 offseason, when the contracts of Duncan Robinson and Terry Rozier come off the books.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Mar. 2025
-
What critics of interventionism have historically sought is prudence in foreign affairs—avoiding unnecessary wars while ensuring the protection of core national interests.—
Andrew Latham,
JSTOR Daily,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Until Black Panther’s record breaking $235 million opening, conventional industry wisdom held that films with predominantly Black casts typically underperform financially overseas.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Socrates warned that putting words on paper would destroy memory, weaken wisdom, and dull the human mind.—
Ann Kowal Smith,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
His sharp sense of storytelling and visionary approach to content has consistently set him apart as a true leader.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
10 Apr. 2025
-
That has always been part of the Trumpist package of maybe not ideas in the sense of grand philosophies but certainly cultural ideas.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
President Trump’s tariff plan appears determined to turn back the clock, and nowhere does his plan defy common sense more than with those same spices that Marco Polo and countless others in the ancient world journeyed for years to bring to the world.—
Hank Tucker,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote is common sense.—
Bluesky Social,
Bluesky Social,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Comments Million Dollar Secret finalists take on laser beams, sewing needles, and a battle of wits.—
Jillian Sederholm,
EW.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
The Emmy-award-winning series somehow managed to merge sharp wit with wholehearted sincerity, reminding us that, in the end, family is what makes life truly special, no matter how chaotic or comical things can be.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Some were fearful for friends and family; others mourned a new era in American immigration policy.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
20 Apr. 2025
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The results show that Trump has so far been able to convince only his base that his economic policies will be good for the country over time: 49% of the public believe the economy will get worse over the next year, the most pessimistic overall result since 2023.—
Steve Liesman,
CNBC,
19 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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