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PRUDENT
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I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Careful and sensible; marked by sound judgment
Example:
more prudent to hide than to fight
Classified under:
Similar:
circumspect; discreet (heedful of potential consequences)
heady; judicious; wise (marked by the exercise of good judgment or common sense in practical matters)
provident (careful in regard to your own interests)
prudential (arising from or characterized by prudence especially in business matters)
Also:
careful (exercising caution or showing care or attention)
provident (providing carefully for the future)
responsible (worthy of or requiring responsibility or trust; or held accountable)
wise (having or prompted by wisdom or discernment)
Antonym:
imprudent (not prudent or wise)
Derivation:
prudence (knowing how to avoid embarrassment or distress)
Context examples:
After a moment's pause he said: Though I came only yesterday, I have equipped myself properly for Bath already, you see, (pointing to a new umbrella); I wish you would make use of it, if you are determined to walk; though I think it would be more prudent to let me get you a chair.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
Elinor had always thought it would be more prudent for them to settle at some distance from Norland, than immediately amongst their present acquaintance.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
Smiles of intelligence passed between her and the gentleman on first glancing towards Miss Fairfax; but it was most prudent to avoid speech.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
Her prudent mother, occupied by the same ideas, forbore to invite him to sit by herself.
(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)
Till now she had done well, been prudent and exact, kept her little account books neatly, and showed them to him monthly without fear.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I mentioned the prudent management of our treasury; the valour and achievements of our forces, by sea and land.
(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)
It seems to us, said she, prudent, Mr. Traddles, to bring these feelings to the test of our own observation.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
And, Fanny, though I hope I do justice to my sisters' good qualities, I think it very possible that they might, one or both, be more desirous of being admired by Crawford, and might shew that desire rather more unguardedly than was perfectly prudent.
(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)
The belief of being prudent, and self-denying, principally for his advantage, was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting, a final parting; and every consolation was required, for she had to encounter all the additional pain of opinions, on his side, totally unconvinced and unbending, and of his feeling himself ill used by so forced a relinquishment.
(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)
She was generous, amiable, interesting: she was everything but prudent.
(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)
