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sound judgment

sound judgment

4 3.7
The ability to make sensible, careful decisions
  • noun
  • /saʊnd ˈdʒʌdʒmənt/
translation icon : juicio sólido
  • You've shown remarkably sound judgment.
  • make sound judgment

Examples

  • Learning a great deal about this topic will help you make sound judgments regarding your coverage.

    Blog text (2)
  • My definition of professionalism includes always striving to be the best, individually doing what is right, and always using sound judgment.

    Academic text (2009)
  • I had to think quickly and make sound judgment calls on my own to protect myself and my aircraft.

    Blog text (8)
  • When the change happened, I was pretty angry, but thankfully I used sound judgment and stayed the course.

    Blog text (5)
  • A prudent person is someone who is marked by sound judgment.

    Blog text (26)
  • Design engineers should know the assumptions behind decision support tools and should never use a tool as a substitute for sound judgment or professional experience.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Your bravery, sound judgment, and outstanding resolve are an example to all soldiers.

  • Even so, these searches should be guided by reasonableness and sound judgment.

    Academic text (2003)
  • In two situations that could have become troublesome, you exercised sound judgment.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • The manager's decision was based on sound judgment, leading the team to success.

Synonyms

sense
vssound judgment
3.7

Good practical judgment about what to do

is more about deliberate well considered decision making
judgment
vssound judgment
  • US
758 3.2

Ability to make good decisions and form sensible opinions

focuses more on careful and fully considered choices rather than general sense
wisdom
vssound judgment
571 2.7

To use what you know and have learned to make good choices and give good advice

is more about practical decision technique than broad life experience
common sense
vssound judgment
244 1.8

The ability to make good decisions in everyday life

involves more deliberate, well weighed choices rather than basic practical instinct
good sense
vssound judgment
53 3.6

The ability to make sensible decisions in everyday life

emphasizes thorough consideration and deliberation more than plain practicality
rationality
vssound judgment
34 5.4

Clear thinking and decisions based on facts and logic

includes practical weighing and common sense beyond pure logical process
prudence
vssound judgment
18 6.1

Careful and sensible thinking and action to avoid risks

is broader, focusing on sound, well considered choices beyond risk avoidance
acumen
vssound judgment
17 7.9

Skill at making good, quick decisions in a specific area

is broader, covering deliberate, well considered choices across situations
reasonableness
vssound judgment
8 3.7

A quality of being fair, sensible, and showing good judgment

focuses more on the quality of considered decisions than fairness or moderation
good head on one's shoulders
vssound judgment
  • Informal
5 5.9

A person who thinks carefully and makes sensible choices

adds emphasis on measured, well planned choices rather than just practical knack
soundness
vssound judgment
4 4.9

Careful thinking and good judgment in making decisions

leans more toward decision process and prudence than purely logical basis
perspicacity
vssound judgment
  • Formal
2 9.6

The ability to notice and understand things quickly and clearly

focuses on making considered sensible choices rather than quick perceptive understanding
sagacity
vssound judgment
  • Formal
1 8.7

Being very wise and good at making decisions

is more practical and decision focused rather than broadly experienced wisdom
horse sense
vssound judgment
  • Informal
1 4.8

Being able to make good practical decisions in everyday life

is more about careful, well considered decisions than plain practicality
judiciousness
vssound judgment
1 7.2

Careful judgment when deciding what to do

is broader, applying to everyday sensible decisions beyond opinion formation
sensibleness
vssound judgment
1 4.6

Being careful and reasonable when making choices

adds the idea of careful thought and weighing options rather than instinctive sense
wiseness
vssound judgment
1 7.5

Being experienced and able to make good choices

is more narrowly about making sensible, well considered decisions now
sagaciousness
vssound judgment
  • Formal
9.1

Being wise and showing good judgment

is narrower, stressing practical decision skill over wide reflective insight
phronesis
vssound judgment
  • Formal
9.9

Skill in making good moral decisions in real life

focuses on sensible everyday choices rather than mainly ethical judgment
clearheadedness
vssound judgment
5.7

The ability to think calmly and make good choices in difficult situations

emphasizes overall careful decision making rather than momentary clear thinking

Antonyms

12 6.2

A lack of clear, logical thinking

How Good

sound judgment
4 3.7
poor decision
11 3.5

Surface Forms

Morphology

sound + judgment

The phrase is directly compositional: 'sound' (reliable, sensible) modifies 'judgment' (ability to make decisions), so a learner who knows both words can infer 'sensible, well-considered decisions'. This adjective + noun pattern is a common, transparent construction cross-linguistically, making the meaning predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase sound judgment uses sound in the older sense 'strong' or 'healthy'. Think of a house that is sound — solid and safe — so a sound judgment is a decision that stands firm and can be trusted, which is why it means 'the ability to make sensible and careful decisions'.