sagacious

[ suh-gey-shuhs ]

adjective

1. having or showing acute mental discernment and keen practical sense; shrewd:

   Socrates, that sagacious Greek philosopher, believed that the easiest way to learn was by asking questions.

   Synonyms: perspicacious, keen, sharp, acute, judicious, intelligent, clever, discerning, sage, wise

   Antonyms: unwise

2. Obsolete. having an acute sense of smell.

sagacious

/ səˈɡeɪʃəs /

adjective

1. having or showing sagacity; wise
2. obsolete.
   (of hounds) having an acute sense of smell

Derived Forms

• saˈgaciously, adverb
• saˈgaciousness, noun

Other Words From

• sa·gacious·ly adverb
• sa·gacious·ness noun
• quasi-sa·gacious adjective
• quasi-sa·gacious·ly adverb
• super·sa·gacious adjective
• super·sa·gacious·ly adverb
• super·sa·gacious·ness noun
• unsa·gacious adjective
• unsa·gacious·ly adverb
• unsa·gacious·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sagacious¹

First recorded in 1600–10; sagaci(ty) + -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of sagacious¹

C17: from Latin sagāx, from sāgīre to be astute

Example Sentences

“Even at an early age, Charlie showed sagacious negotiating ability, and usually gained a bigger specimen or one with unusual coloring,” Broggie wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

If they chose not to strengthen our current federal gun laws, then we would know they were not the sagacious, prescient, august and erudite intellects we've been taught to believe in.

From Salon

Highlights were quickly beamed all over the world, including the notorious “Don’t Worry Darling” kickoff that fueled endless speculation about the film’s director, Olivia Wilde, and her stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles; the news conference where an unexpectedly sagacious Timothée Chalamet predicted imminent societal collapse; and the tearful Brendan Fraser comeback that began on the Lido and culminated in his best actor Oscar win.

From New York Times

Highlights were quickly beamed all over the world, including the notorious “Don’t Worry Darling” kickoff that fueled endless speculation about the film’s director, Olivia Wilde, and her stars Florence Pugh and Harry Styles; the news conference where an unexpectedly sagacious Timothée Chalamet predicted imminent societal collapse; and the tearful Brendan Fraser comeback that began on the Lido and culminated in his best actor Oscar win.

From New York Times

And not a sagacious orchestral adaptation of swing — as in Adams’s “City Noir” — but the genuine article.

From New York Times