Sagacious

adj.thoughtful, capableformal

What it means

Showing wise and practical judgment.

Reach for it when praising judgment that combines experience, foresight, and practical wisdom

The sagacious elder asked the question that settled the dispute.

warm
insightful
when deep understanding is visible in an observation
not when Insight can be brilliant without practical wisdom.
warm
wise
when sound judgment and humane perspective are central
not when Wise is broader and can rest on moral insight rather than practical shrewdness.
professional
astute
when sharp understanding of a situation matters
not when Astute can imply tactical self-interest.
professional
discerning
when noticing fine differences leads to good choice
not when Discernment does not necessarily include foresight.
professional
far-sighted
when long-term consequences are central
not when Foresight alone does not establish present practical wisdom.
professional
shrewd
when practical advantage is recognized quickly
not when Shrewd can sound calculating or self-serving.
formal
judicious
when careful selection and restraint deserve praise
not when Judicious describes a choice more naturally than a person.
formal
prudent
when future risk shapes cautious judgment
not when Prudence is more risk-averse than sagacity.
literary
perspicacious
when rare formal prose needs keen perception
not when Perspicacious is as uncommon as sagacious and less about judgment.

sagacious advice
Her sagacious advice protected both the old trees and the new path.
sagacious leader
A sagacious leader, Petru saved the reserve for the uncertain winter.
sagacious decision
The sagacious decision traded speed for a maintainable design.

Sagacious is uncommon in present-day everyday English; wise or astute is usually clearer.

The definition and the example on this page are written here. The dictionaries above ground which meaning is being described, not the wording.