Adjacent Words

Prudent definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

PRU'DENT, a. Cautious; circumspect; practically wise; careful of the consequences of enterprises, measures or actions; cautious not to act when the end is of doubtful utility, or probably impracticable.
The prudent man looketh well to his going. Proverbs 14.
A prudent man foreseeth the evil and hideth himself. Proverbs 22.
1. Dictated or directed by prudence; as prudent behavior.
2. Foreseeing by instinct; as the prudent crane.
3. Frugal; economical; as a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money.
4. Wise; intelligent.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment; "a prudent manager"; "prudent rulers"; "prudent hesitation"; "more prudent to hide than to fight" [ant: imprudent]

Merriam Webster's

adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin prudent-, prudens, contraction of provident-, providens — more at provident Date: 14th century characterized by, arising from, or showing prudence: 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 Synonyms: see wise • prudently adverb

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj. 1 (of a person or conduct) careful to avoid undesired consequences; circumspect. 2 discreet. Derivatives: prudence n. prudently adv. Etymology: ME f. OF prudent or L prudens = providens PROVIDENT

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Prudent Pru"dent, a. [L. prudens, -entis, contr. from providens: cf. F. prudent. See Provident.] 1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct; practically wise; judicious; careful; discreet; sensible; -- opposed to rash; as, a prudent man; dictated or directed by prudence or wise forethought; evincing prudence; as, prudent behavior. Moses established a grave and prudent law. --Milton. 2. Frugal; economical; not extravagant; as, a prudent woman; prudent expenditure of money. Syn: Cautious; wary; circumspect; considerate; discreet; judicious; provident; economical; frugal.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Someone who is prudent is sensible and careful. It is always prudent to start any exercise programme gradually at first... Being a prudent and cautious person, you realise that the problem must be resolved. ? rash ADJ: oft it v-link ADJ to-inf • prudently Prudently, Joanna spoke none of this aloud. ADV: usu ADV with v

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

a. 1. Discreet, cautious, careful, circumspect, wary, considerate, judicious, provident, foreseeing, wise, prudential. 2. Frugal, economical, thrifty, provident, sparing, saving.

Moby Thesaurus

Argus-eyed, Scotch, advisable, alert, all ears, all eyes, anticipant, anticipatory, attentive, aux aguets, bland, canny, careful, cautious, chary, cheeseparing, circumspect, clairvoyant, conserving, considerate, custodial, deliberate, discerning, discreet, discriminating, discriminative, divinatory, eagle-eyed, economic, economical, economizing, enlightened, farseeing, farsighted, forehanded, foreknowing, foreseeing, foresighted, forethoughted, forethoughtful, frugal, gentle, gingerly, guarded, hawk-eyed, heedful, hesitant, intuitive, judgmatic, judicial, judicious, keen-eyed, labor-saving, leaving out nothing, lidless, longsighted, mild, mild as milk, mindful, moderate, money-saving, noncommittal, nonviolent, observant, on guard, on the lookout, on the watch, open-eyed, overlooking no possibility, pacifistic, parsimonious, pawky, peaceable, peaceful, penny-wise, politic, precognitive, precognizant, prepared, prescient, provident, providential, prudential, ready, reasonable, reflecting, reflective, regardful, safe, sagacious, sage, sane, sapient, saving, scrimping, sensible, sharp-eyed, shrewd, skimping, sleepless, slow to act, sober, soft, spare, sparing, tactical, tame, temperate, tentative, thorough, thoughtful, thrifty, time-saving, unadventurous, uncommunicative, undaring, unenterprising, unprecipitate, unwasteful, vigilant, wary, watchful, well-advised, well-judged, wise, with open eyes