prudent
Careful and sensible, thinking ahead before you act.
prudent in a sentence
- It was prudent to pack a raincoat, even though the sky looked perfectly clear.
- It is prudent to save some pocket money each week instead of spending it all on sweets.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to prudent?
- Acareless
- Brash
- Csilly
- Dwise
Show the answer
D: wise. The other three mean the opposite of prudent.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to prudent?
- Asensible
- Bcareless
- Ccareful
- Dwise
Show the answer
B: careless. The other three mean nearly the same as prudent.
Words that mean something similar
wise, careful, sensible
Words that mean the opposite
careless, rash, silly
Careful: prudent is not cautious
Cautious is about the danger in front of you. Prudent is about the one that has not arrived yet. Read why children mix them up.
More words about character & personality
- quirky: Unusual in an interesting or charming way.
- rascal: A cheeky person who behaves badly in a playful way.
- renowned: Famous and admired by many people.
- resilient: Able to bounce back quickly after something bad happens.
- rogue: Someone who behaves badly or dishonestly, but is often likeable.
- ruthless: Cruel and showing no pity at all.
- savage: Wild and violent.
- sincere: Truly meaning what you say or feel, without pretending.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test