sagacious

adjective

sə-ˈgā-shəs How to pronounce sagacious (audio)
Definition of sagaciousnext
as in wise
having or showing deep understanding and intelligent application of knowledge a sagacious critique of the current social climate in our nation

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective sagacious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of sagacious are astute, perspicacious, and shrewd. While all these words mean "acute in perception and sound in judgment," sagacious suggests wisdom, penetration, and farsightedness.

sagacious investors got in on the ground floor

In what contexts can astute take the place of sagacious?

The synonyms astute and sagacious are sometimes interchangeable, but astute suggests shrewdness, perspicacity, and diplomatic skill.

an astute player of party politics

When is perspicacious a more appropriate choice than sagacious?

The words perspicacious and sagacious can be used in similar contexts, but perspicacious implies unusual power to see through and understand what is puzzling or hidden.

a perspicacious counselor saw through the child's facade

When can shrewd be used instead of sagacious?

While the synonyms shrewd and sagacious are close in meaning, shrewd stresses practical, hardheaded cleverness and judgment.

a shrewd judge of character

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 sagacious The simplification of this rallying cry points to the exhibition’s sagacious curatorial focus. — Michaëla De Lacaze Mohrmann, Artforum, 1 Jan. 2026 Harper’s has been a sagacious and elegant presence in all this for a very long time, since there were giants on the earth, Frederick Douglass and Herman Melville. — Literary Hub, 26 Nov. 2025 All that Manuel’s sagacious head coach Victor Valenzuela can do now is fine-tune his fighter’s composure. — Ben Wyatt, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2023 The story, which reads as a simple recitation of the facts, portrays the decision to use the bomb as one made with sagacious care. — Andy Kifer, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 July 2023 In the eye-popping sci-fi epic, Winslet plays the sagacious Ronal, an alien queen and healer who leads the oceanic Metkayina clan. — Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2022
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sagacious
  1. wise
  2. prudent
  3. insightful
Adjective
  • And another small change may also have benefited him, both mentally and timing-wise.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • And that’s both take-wise as well as diversity-wise and gender-wise and religion-wise and industry-wise.
    — Marcus Jones, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wise
Adjective
  • Critics of Modi’s prudent management of Washington have not come up with a convincing alternative strategy for how India should handle the growing power imbalance with China.
    — C. Raja Mohan, Foreign Affairs, 27 Aug. 2026
  • But Newsom’s new language moves away from the prudent standard and also drops the fatality requirement.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of prudent
Adjective
  • Luckily, Kittredge’s film is hugely entertaining, energetic, and insightful.
    — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The fate of Clarity could serve as a timely best practice case or an insightful autopsy.
    — Cleve Mesidor, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of insightful

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Cite this Entry

“Sagacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sagacious. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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