worldly-wise
2
7.4
- adjective
- /ˈwɜrldli waɪz/
- Nature will eventually wipe out all those worldly-wise men and women who are dealing in complicated junk like interest rate derivatives, collateralized debt.
- more worldly-wise
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Watch on YouTubeI think it's just someone who's experienced and who is quite worldly wise.
- I think it's just someone who's experienced and who is quite worldly wise.
Examples
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He's too old to take over the league, and probably too worldly wise to worry much about it.
Blog text (28) -
To the town children, the refinery students seemed the most worldly-wise and sophisticated of beings.
Fiction book (1993) -
The veterans who attended Catholic schools under the G.I. Bill were older, more committed students, more worldly-wise, and more likely to consider a Catholic school for educational rather than religious reasons.
Academic text (2002) -
NOBLE, WORLDLY-WISE, BUT WITH A CHARMING TOUCH OF INNOCENCE.
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Despite her young age, she often seemed more worldly-wise than her peers due to her extensive travels.
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The worldly-wise businessman knew how to navigate difficult negotiations with ease.
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Having lived in different countries, he became quite worldly-wise, understanding various cultures and social norms.
Synonyms
651
2.1
Showing good judgment from experience
110
6.7
A person who has wide experience of the world and good social manners
100
4.4
Having practical knowledge and good judgment in a specific area
80
4.1
A person who has learned a lot about a subject
50
3.5
A person who knows a lot about a subject or the world
50
4.7
Good at judging situations and making smart business decisions
38
6.9
Good at understanding a situation quickly and using it to get an advantage
18
5.8
Being experienced in life and with people
Antonyms
How Experienced
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Worldly-wise comes from joining worldly ('of the world' or 'life and places') and wise ('knowing'). It gives the image of someone who has seen much of life and learned how people and situations work, so a worldly-wise person is experienced and clever in practical or social matters.