English Explanatory Dictionary

prudent

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Sagacious in adapting means to ends; circumspect in action, or in determining any line of conduct.
  2. Practically wise, judicious, shrewd.
  3. Frugal; economical; not extravagant.

Pronunciation

pro͞o′dənt /ˈpɹuː.dənt/ /ˈpɹu.dənt/ En-us-prudent.ogg /ˈpɹʉː.dənt/ /ˈpɹʉ.dənt/ /ˈpɹʉd.ʌnt/ /ˈpɾuː.ɖenʈ/

Word forms

prudent more prudent most prudent

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English prudent, from Old French prudent, from Latin prūdēns, contracted from prōvidēns (“foresight”) (English providence), the present participle of prōvideō (“to forsee; to provide for”). Unrelated to prude. Doublet of provident.

Synonyms

careful considerate discreet alert attentive cautelous cautious canny chary circumspect conservative deliberate guarded heedful heedy hesitant meticulous mindful prudent reckful safe sensible shy slow tentative timid timorous well-advised wary astute clairvoyant deep frood grounded judicious oracular perspicacious politic profound quick-witted reasonable sagacious sage sapient wise witful abstemious moderate cheap close with a buck economic economical frugal husbandly huswifely parsimonious penny-pinching spareful sparing spary

Antonyms

imprudent incontinent careless cursory derelict heedless irregardless irrespective lash lax neglectful negligent reckless regardless remiss slack slapdash sloppy slovenly slipshod unfaithful daring devil-may-care headstrong impetuous impulsive precipitant precipitate precipitous quick-and-dirty rash sudden temeritous asinine balmy barmy bedaft loony daft derpy dim-headed dim-witted dopey dull-headed dull-witted dumb duncical fatuous fuzzy-headed fuzzy-minded gauvison goofy idiotic idle insipient mookish naive silly simple slight

Related words

jurisprudence provident prudence prudential

Derived words

prudence prudently prudent man rule ultraprudent unprudent
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