Haven't been stupid enough vs Sensible

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Haven't been stupid enough

InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)

Sensible

Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Most formal: SensibleMost common: Sensible
 Haven't been stupid enoughSensible
Pronunciation🇬🇧 //ˈhæv(ə)nt bɪn ˈstjuːpɪd ɪˈnʌf//🇺🇸 //ˈhæv(ə)nt bɪn ˈstuːpɪd ɪˈnʌf//🇬🇧 /["/ˈsensəbl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsensəbl/"]/
MeaningNot being foolish or sillyLogical and wise. Making good choices.
ExampleI haven't been stupid enough to invest in that scheme.It was sensible of her to save money for emergencies.
RegisterInformalNeutral
How commonTop 5,000 (fairly common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level-B1
Part of speechadjective
Collocationshaven't been foolish, haven't been brave enough, haven't been careful enoughappear, be, seem, extremely, fairly, very
Antonyms-foolish, irrational, illogical
Common mistakesConfused with 'haven't been smart enough', Misused in formal contexts, Overused in negative scenariosConfused with 'sensitive' (related to feelings), Using overly complex synonyms instead of 'sensible', Misplacing it in sentences where a different adjective fits better
Usage notesOften used in casual conversations to imply self-awareness or an acknowledgment of past mistakes. Avoid in formal settings.Used to describe decisions or actions that are reasonable. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may sound overly formal in relaxed conversations.

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Haven't been stupid enough

Frequently asked questions: Haven't been stupid enough vs Sensible

What's the difference between Haven't been stupid enough and Sensible?

Haven't been stupid enough: Not being foolish or silly Sensible: Logical and wise. Making good choices.

Which is more formal: Haven't been stupid enough and Sensible?

Sensible is the most formal of these.

Which is more common: Haven't been stupid enough and Sensible?

Sensible is the most common in everyday English.

Can you show an example of each?

Haven't been stupid enough: I haven't been stupid enough to invest in that scheme. Sensible: It was sensible of her to save money for emergencies.

Can I use Haven't been stupid enough and Sensible interchangeably?

Not always. Haven't been stupid enough and Sensible are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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