sane

adjective

ˈsān How to pronounce sane (audio)
Definition of sanenext
as in stable
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions the court ruled that the woman was indeed sane when she made out her will

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The sale of safe and sane fireworks is allowed between noon and 10 p.m. on June 28 and 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. from June 29 until July 4. —Jack Rodriquez-Vars, Sacbee.com, 5 June 2025 Sanchez, who first started at the company in 1993, told Fortune there are two key practices that keep him sane and firing on all cylinders. —Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 23 June 2025 But Leslie kept me sane through those last months of chemo, staging karaoke contests with fake mikes. —Noor Hassan, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2025 Something that keeps me sane in summer is carving out solo afternoons at the movies. —Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for sane
  1. stable
  2. normal
  3. lucid
  4. rational
  5. reasonable
  6. balanced
  7. healthy
  8. sensible
Adjective
  • His early stardom never quite translated into a stable senior career as opportunities dried up in a system overflowing with talent.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025
  • The president further argues that lower rates will make financing the ever-increasing federal debt cheaper, a factor which does not play into the Fed’s statutory dual mandate of ensuring maximum sustainable employment and stable prices.
    — Ron Insana, CNBC, 11 July 2025
Definition of stable
Adjective
  • By morning, service on the subway had resumed on a normal schedule.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 15 July 2025
  • Newsweek has contacted the White House press office for comment outside of normal business hours.
    — Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
Definition of normal
Adjective
  • The glasses are available in a Midas Fleck colorway, with a black lucid treatment and gold details, featuring Prizm 24K lenses.
    — Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 9 July 2025
  • Han, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature last year, has written about the Jeju uprising before in the brutal and lucid 2014 novel Human Acts.
    — Vulture Editors, Vulture, 8 July 2025
Definition of lucid
Adjective
  • The regime’s more rational elements may eventually prevail and reduce tensions.
    — Roya Hakakian, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025
  • Collins’ no vote, in a rational world, made sense for her constituents.
    — Philip Elliott, Time, 9 July 2025
Definition of rational
Adjective
  • Invoking Section 15 of Article 17, the NFL wants Droney to order payment of reasonable attorneys’ fees and costs—about $12 million.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 14 July 2025
  • This projection appears reasonable considering that the current effective tariff rate of the U.S. has increased five-fold this year to roughly 16% according to the Yale Budget Lab.
    — Nick Sargen, Forbes.com, 14 July 2025
Definition of reasonable
Adjective
  • The argument in favor was to have a fully balanced schedule, where everyone played everyone else twice.
    — Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 July 2025
  • Served with kimchi, daikon and rice, the plate is balanced and filling.
    — Irene Milanez, Sacbee.com, 7 July 2025
Definition of balanced
Adjective
  • Inside an office, a doctor told Ross that the top of his ligament was healthy and strong.
    — Will Sammon, New York Times, 8 July 2025
  • That gunk could indicate that the river ecosystem isn’t healthy, Eichert told the Statesman, which could be due to dams upriver changing the historical flooding in the region.
    — Alex Music July 8, Idaho Statesman, 8 July 2025
Definition of healthy
Adjective
  • But thanks to sensible regulations and a strong potential upside, its industry is starting to light up, and Forbes has created a guide to navigating the cannabis laws across the EU and the United Kingdom.
    — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 11 July 2025
  • Taking Shoaib Bashir out of the firing line seems sensible, too.
    — The Athletic UK Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2025
Definition of sensible

Browse Nearby Words

sandy
sane
saneness
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Cite this Entry

“Sane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/sane. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

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