Synonym Chooser

How is the word sane distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of sane are judicious, prudent, sage, sapient, sensible, and wise. While all these words mean "having or showing sound judgment," sane stresses mental soundness, rationality, and levelheadedness.

remained sane even in times of crises

When might judicious be a better fit than sane?

In some situations, the words judicious and sane are roughly equivalent. However, judicious stresses a capacity for reaching wise decisions or just conclusions.

judicious parents using kindness and discipline in equal measure

When is prudent a more appropriate choice than sane?

While the synonyms prudent and sane are close in meaning, prudent suggests the exercise of restraint guided by sound practical wisdom and discretion.

a prudent decision to wait out the storm

In what contexts can sage take the place of sane?

While in some cases nearly identical to sane, sage suggests wide experience, great learning, and wisdom.

the sage advice of my father

When is it sensible to use sapient instead of sane?

Although the words sapient and sane have much in common, sapient suggests great sagacity and discernment.

the sapient musings of an old philosopher

When could sensible be used to replace sane?

The meanings of sensible and sane largely overlap; however, sensible applies to action guided and restrained by good sense and rationality.

a sensible woman who was not fooled by flattery

Where would wise be a reasonable alternative to sane?

The synonyms wise and sane are sometimes interchangeable, but wise suggests great understanding of people and of situations and unusual discernment and judgment in dealing with them.

wise beyond his tender years

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of sane After five hours of deliberation over two days, the jury found Kemper to be legally sane and convicted him on all eight counts of first-degree murder. Lynsey Eidell, People.com, 28 Aug. 2025 Although likely candidates are attempting to put themselves in different fiscal lanes, the reality is that the most fiscally sane candidate could be Obama’s chief of staff. Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025 And my way of trying to stay sane and fighting back was to stay busy…. Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 17 Aug. 2025 Everyone is wrong, and no one is sane. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Refinery29, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sane
Adjective
  • Any liquid water on TRAPPIST-1 e would be accompanied by a greenhouse effect, which would involve various gases, especially carbon dioxide, keeping the atmosphere stable and the planet warm.
    Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Your core muscles, back muscles, and balance may improve as your body works to remain stable against the extra weight.
    Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Many automakers returned to advertising during the NFL season last year as vehicle inventory levels returned to more normal levels.
    Laya Neelakandan, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Her therapist – who Heming Willis accidentally referred to her as her own caregiver – explained how normal these feelings were.
    David Oliver, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Floating somewhere between lucid dreams and nightmares, Desde el Coma feels like waking up gasping for air — a kaleidoscope of bruises, chaos, and resurrection.
    Natalia Cano, Billboard, 22 Aug. 2025
  • Joseph Mitchell was at once the most lucid and the most mysterious of the great mid-century New Yorker writers.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • So there is no logic or any rational decisions made.
    Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
  • The appellate court had held that the INS could not rely on these immigration sweeps but, rather, needed to articulate objective facts and rational inferences to support a reasonable suspicion that each person detained is undocumented.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Bondi could argue that her actions set a reasonable expectation that public officials should conduct themselves with respect towards other branches of government.
    Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
  • Lawyers for the plaintiffs said their restraining order only prevented federal agents from making stops without reasonable suspicion, in line with the Constitution and Court precedent.
    Dan Gooding Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Eating a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods helps maintain a balanced gut microbiome.
    Abby Norman, Verywell Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of guessing, leaders have real information about meeting dynamics and can guide teams toward more balanced discussions.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Lifestyle habit such as exercise and a healthy diet can help keep inflammation in check.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Loneliness is the healthy emotion that nudges us to get off the couch and go be with people.
    Dev Patnaik, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The decision to have Keith Andrews succeed Thomas Frank as head coach is a sensible one.
    The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
  • This can, at first glance, appear sensible to an organization mired in firefighting, where every day reveals another problem.
    Nelson P. Repenning, Time, 5 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Sane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sane. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.

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