NOUS Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

nous

noun

Definition of nous

chiefly British

as in prudence

the ability to make intelligent decisions especially in everyday matters an Oxford don who was long on erudition but a little short on everyday nous

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Example Sentences

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Recent Examples of nous The assessment contradicts Western conventional wisdom that Moscow has approached the conflict more as a meat grinder than with strategic nous. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Oct. 2025 Alonso's coaching career has been turbocharged by his impressive tactical nous, which was the driving factor in the success of a Bayer Leverkusen side substantially less well-resourced than its rivals. — Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 25 July 2025 He's credited Pep Guardiola for his tactical nous in the past, but that doesn't explain away Sevilla. — SI.com, 2 Oct. 2019 The industry will have to use its considerable commercial nous to hit its growth targets if Brexit provokes a deep rupture with the EU. — The Economist, 3 May 2018 See All Example Sentences for nous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nous

Noun

What looks like prudence to one side can look like over-caution to the other.

— Abdulrahman Hammad, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
In those conditions, United’s prudence makes financial sense.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of prudence

Noun

The Voyager starts to make more sense when the bike also needs to handle groceries, school gear, or part of the morning drop-off routine.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2026
For communities facing population loss, an aging workforce, or struggling to retain young professionals and skilled workers, attracting new residents can make economic sense.

— Meggen Harris, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2026

Definition of sense

Noun

Yet despite this unease, they are also shown with occasional silliness and wit, as well as an unexpected strength to their paradoxically porcelain-like bodies.

— Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
His playful sophisticated wit was often aimed at his presidency, his wealthy background and occasionally his brothers, Teddy and Bobby.

— John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of wit

Noun

But instead of making personal expertise the bottleneck through which every decision must pass, the leader creates a structure in which collective intelligence can emerge.

— Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
Ad spending on linear late-night shows is clearly continuing to fall; ad intelligence agency Guideline noted that spend went from $439M in 2018 to $221M in 2024.

— Peter White, Deadline, 17 Aug. 2026