Synonyms for insight
Most common
wisdom penetration discernment intelligence brain storm brain wave
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Wisdom — power of acute observation and deduction
wisdom, penetration, discernment, intelligence, acumen, intuition, perspicacity, perception, perceptiveness, wit, sagacity, prudence, discrimination, perceptivity
2. Brain storm
Other
Definitions
- n. 1
Power of acute observation and deduction.
- n. 2
A sight or view of the interior of anything; a deep inspection or view; introspection; frequently used with into.
Related words
- Word family
- insightful
Forms
- Plural
- insights → wisdoms, penetrations, discernments, intelligences…
Choose the right word
Sharpness, acuteness, and insight, however keen, and penetration, however deep, fall short of the meaning of acumen, which implies also ability to use these qualities to advantage. There are persons of keen insight and great penetration to whom these powers are practically useless.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- intelligence My kitchen help has the intelligence of a spatula.
- wisdom We admired his wisdom, not to mention his courage.
- acumen It is obvious to me that he has no political acumen at all.
- discernment I'm Muslim and I have the gift of discernment.
- inspiration Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| insight | rising | |
| intelligence | rising | |
| wisdom | rising | |
| acumen | steady | |
| discernment | rising | |
| inspiration | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- wit1
- 5 letters
- light1
- 6 letters
- wisdom2, acumen3
- 8 letters
- prudence2, sagacity
- 9 letters
- intuition4
- 10 letters
- perception3, nosognosia
- 11 letters
- inspiration4, penetration4, discernment3
- 12 letters
- intelligence4, perspicacity, perceptivity
- 14 letters
- discrimination5, perceptiveness
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (wisdom2 = 2 syllables).