prudent

/ˈpruːdnt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈpruːdnt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈprü-dᵊnt/ (ame, mw)

prudent — adjective

  • prudentpositive
  • more prudentcomparative
  • most prudentsuperlative

1. making sensible decisions by thinking carefully about what might happen in the f

1.形容詞B2
釋義

making sensible decisions by thinking carefully about what might happen in the future, especially to avoid problems or danger

例句

Amira made a prudent decision to save part of her salary each month.

collocation: prudent decision

It was not prudent for Takeshi to invest all his savings in a single company.

pattern: it is prudent for [sb] to do [sth]

同義詞
  • cautious

    focuses on avoiding immediate danger or error; less about long-term foresight than prudent

  • sensible

    broader and more everyday; covers general good judgment without the formal or financial tone of prudent

  • wise

    suggests deep experience and understanding beyond risk calculation; more personal and less business-oriented

  • judicious

    more formal, applied to considered professional or legal decisions; narrower in scope

反義詞
  • reckless

    acting without care for consequences, the opposite of prudent risk management

  • foolish

    lacking good judgment; broader than imprudent and more commonly used

  • imprudent

    the direct antonym; not sensible or careful about future risks

文法句型

prudent + noun

it + be + prudent + to-infinitive

it + be + prudent + for + noun + to-infinitive

用法筆記

Commonly paired with nouns related to money, planning, or risk (decision, approach, investment, planning, spending). Unlike careful — which can apply to any small task — prudent always implies looking ahead to avoid significant future problems.

常見錯誤

❌She was prudent not to touch the hot stove.
✅She was careful not to touch the hot stove.
💡Prudent implies thinking ahead about important risks with long-term consequences, not basic physical caution.
❌It was prudent of me to bring a jacket in case it got cold.
✅It was sensible of me to bring a jacket in case it got cold.
💡Sensible fits everyday decisions; prudent suits more serious matters involving money, safety, or long-term planning.