sanity check
Quick reasonableness assessment
A sanity check is a quick verification that something is reasonable or hasn't gone wildly wrong.
In computing and engineering, it's a basic test to catch obvious errors before deeper analysis: Let's do a sanity check on these numbers before we present them.
The term implies checking for glaring problems rather than thorough validation—a gut check against absurdity.
Drawing logical conclusions
- validityQuality of being sound
- soundnessReliability of structure
- plausibilitySeeming likely true
- coherenceLogical internal consistency
consistency · rationale · common sense · judgment · analysis · deduction · inference · critical thinking
Confirming truth or accuracy
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- auditFormal accounts examination
- reviewCritical written assessment
- inspectionFormal assessment of condition
assessment · evaluation · vetting · due diligence · proof · scrutiny · examination · testing
State of comfort and health
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- clarityState of being understandable
- composureEmotional self-control
- equilibriumState of balance
lucidity · mental state · groundedness · balance · centeredness · self-awareness · perspective · coping
reasoning
Drawing logical conclusions
- validityQuality of being sound
- soundnessReliability of structure
- plausibilitySeeming likely true
coherence · consistency · rationale · common sense · judgment · analysis · deduction · inference · critical thinking · cogency
validation
Confirming truth or accuracy
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
- auditFormal accounts examination
- reviewCritical written assessment
inspection · assessment · evaluation · vetting · due diligence · proof · scrutiny · examination · testing · quality control
wellbeing
State of comfort and health
- stabilityResistance to displacement
- clarityState of being understandable
- composureEmotional self-control
equilibrium · lucidity · mental state · groundedness · balance · centeredness · self-awareness · perspective · coping · burnout
- examinationsexam, examination, checkup, reexamination, recheck
- verifyconfirm, verify, validate, authenticate, certify
- heuristicsrule of thumb, heuristic, guideline, mental shortcut, educated guess
- debuggingdebug, debugging, debugger, breakpoint, breakpoints
- software testingunit testing, alpha test, closed beta, unit test, open beta
- estimatesestimate, estimation, ballpark, ballpark estimate, rough estimate
sanity checkdeep dive
Comprehensive examination of topic
forensic analysis · due diligence · complete overhaul · stress test
sanity checkblind faith
Trust without requiring proof
rubber stamp · blind trust · taking at face value · willful ignorance · rubber-stamping
sanity, check, sane, sanely, insane, insanity, insanely, checked, checking