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
-
But, as stated above with any Kevin Durant possibilities, pick prudence certainly does have to be part of any Heat transaction machinations going forward.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
9 May 2025
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Nonprofit plans, by contrast, often operate under strict reserve requirements, regulatory constraints and cultural norms that prioritize prudence over growth.—
Sachin H. Jain,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the voters’ wisdom in trying to check pension costs has been repeatedly confirmed.—
U T Editorial Board,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 May 2025
-
Still, Stuy pitches adoptees on the wisdom of testing.—
Barbara Demick,
New Yorker,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
And it was done like a theater production in the sense that every time there was a character, the role was played by an actor.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
-
While questions over mentality will be assessed, players’ physical levels showed a marked improvement, offering a sense of vindication for the coaching staff.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
Jackson disregarded sound economic reasoning, common sense, and the entreaties of Bank supporters and vetoed the recharter bill.—
Time,
Time,
23 May 2025
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Together, these factors — except, of course, the driving record — create a confusing and unfair ratemaking process that lacks not only transparency but common sense.—
Alexi Giannoulias,
Chicago Tribune,
21 May 2025
Noun
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In fact, research has found that some animal species may indeed use wit to strengthen their bonds in the same way that many have the capacity for love, fear, sorrow, guilt, anger, shame, disgust and empathy – and that primates smile and some rats can giggle.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
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Director Vanessa Stallings’ entertaining and breezy staging brims with razor-sharp wit, physical comedy and pop-out visual surprises.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2025
Noun
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Trump tests legal strategies as judges block his policies As the clash becomes a defining moment in the president's second term, conservative activists are pushing Congress to rein in federal judges and pressing Trump to intensify his fight with the courts.—
Zac Anderson,
USA Today,
26 May 2025
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Despite economic realities, Trump touts coal as a linchpin of his second-term policies.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Horse sense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/horse%20sense. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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