1
as in lucid
having full use of one's mind and control over one's actions
waited until she was clearheaded to make the decision
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sober
not having one's mind affected by alcohol
woke up clearheaded and alert the next morning
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clearheaded
The extremely clearheaded way Pistorius describes an experience that, thankfully, almost none of us will ever go through is what lends so much power to Ghost Boy’s narrative.
—
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
Delta 8 has a lower psychotropic potency than delta-nine and produces more clearheaded effects.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2022
All of them were unequivocal in their belief that government intervention is needed because people living on the street are often too strung out and traumatized to make clearheaded decisions for themselves.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021
Nella’s struggle to form a sturdier, more clearheaded Black identity for herself is at the center of this unique thriller that has echoes of both Jordan Peele and, in the end, George Orwell.
—Washington Post, 3 June 2021
As protests over police brutality rocked the nation last summer, Ms. Wiley gained attention on MSNBC for her clearheaded explanations of why some activists wanted to defund the police.
—New York Times, 19 May 2021
Voters were more clearheaded, but those partisan saloons had been key institutions for working-class men.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021
After a week of detoxing from social media, Llompart felt more productive and clearheaded.
—USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2021
Clattering and cluttered but clearheaded and deliberate, this brilliant, brutal, unprecedented work feels like a transcendent artist assembling a new form of music from scratch.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2020
Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2025
Delta 8 has a lower psychotropic potency than delta-nine and produces more clearheaded effects.
—The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 June 2022
All of them were unequivocal in their belief that government intervention is needed because people living on the street are often too strung out and traumatized to make clearheaded decisions for themselves.
—BostonGlobe.com, 17 Oct. 2021
Nella’s struggle to form a sturdier, more clearheaded Black identity for herself is at the center of this unique thriller that has echoes of both Jordan Peele and, in the end, George Orwell.
—Washington Post, 3 June 2021
As protests over police brutality rocked the nation last summer, Ms. Wiley gained attention on MSNBC for her clearheaded explanations of why some activists wanted to defund the police.
—New York Times, 19 May 2021
Voters were more clearheaded, but those partisan saloons had been key institutions for working-class men.
—Jon Grinspan, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Apr. 2021
After a week of detoxing from social media, Llompart felt more productive and clearheaded.
—USA TODAY, 28 Jan. 2021
Clattering and cluttered but clearheaded and deliberate, this brilliant, brutal, unprecedented work feels like a transcendent artist assembling a new form of music from scratch.
—Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 8 Dec. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clearheaded
Adjective
-
In other words, could the question at the outset of the novel be applied today to the United States—a bastion of democratic strength being ripped apart by an erratic tyrant? Years ago, in one of his lucid columns, Vargas Llosa described the election of Donald Trump as a form of national suicide.—
Ilan Stavans,
The Atlantic,
15 Apr. 2025
-
For a woman who had made a reputation as a lucid, sharp chronicler of the reality of American lives, Didion struggled with the irrational thoughts that flooded her mind afterward.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
On the investment banking side, Solomon offered both a sober assessment of the impact of economic and trade-policy uncertainty, along with some optimism about the future.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The two kids absolutely kill it, transforming from sober and traumatized young people into giggling little sisters immediately at the sight of their older brother’s sketch.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
This independence is intended to allow the Fed to focus on its dual mandate: promoting maximum employment and maintaining stable prices.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The final step of the process uses what’s left after biofuel production as a stable, non-leaching crop fertilizer.—
Robin Roenker,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For 2025, retail growth predictions of 3.6% or better are holding firm, and while NRF economists are expecting slower growth for the near term, the trade group is expecting for normal growth to return in time.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Join 22 others in the comments View Comments The airline also expects its own employment level in 2025 to be down from 2024 levels, though executives said that would be done through normal attrition caused by retirement and other voluntary departures, and not any layoff of staff.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Rajula Srivastava, for contributions in harmonic analysis and analytic number theory, including contributions to the problem of counting rational points near smooth manifolds.—
Alex Cramer,
HollywoodReporter,
6 Apr. 2025
-
The individual leader faces a prisoner's dilemma where the rational choice for personal advancement conflicts with the collective interest.—
Nate Bennett,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The retaking of public space for some of our most cherished social functions was a godsend that kept a lot of people sane and was a boon for small businesses even after things started reopening.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Toss in the idea of eternal repetition, of being condemned to relive a single experience in that loneliness is enough to make a murderer out of the most rational, sane individual.—
Steve Greene,
IndieWire,
12 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
For a more balanced strategy, the Trefis High Quality portfolio has delivered strong results, returning over 91% since launch—outpacing broader benchmarks.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
-
Lots of people love Global knives are beloved by many for their middle of the road price and balanced, lightweight feel.—
Alaina Chou,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clearheaded.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clearheaded. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share