worldly-wise
Savvy about life
Worldly-wise describes someone who has learned how the world actually works—its deceits, compromises, and unwritten rules.
The term implies practical wisdom gained through experience rather than formal education: She was worldly-wise enough to know the offer was too good to be true.
A worldly-wise person is not easily fooled or shocked by human behavior.
Refined and courteous
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- culturedEducated in arts, manners
- refinedPurified or cultured
- polishedSmooth, refined, accomplished
suave · debonair · elegant · metropolitan · continental · well-bred · genteel · poised
Practical shrewdness
- seasonedFlavored or battle-tested
- veteranExperienced former soldier
- knowledgeableHaving extensive information
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
shrewd · perceptive · insightful · sage · judicious · enlightened · informed · well-traveled
Inclined to question claims
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
- disillusionedFreed from false beliefs
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
- waryGuardedly alert
cautious · disenchanted · knowing · guarded · circumspect · suspicious · hardbitten · unsurprised
True to life
- practicalSuited for real use
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
- hardheadedStubbornly unyielding or practical
levelheaded · unsentimental · matter-of-fact · grounded · shrewd · calculating · opportunistic · adaptable
urbane
Refined and courteous
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- culturedEducated in arts, manners
- refinedPurified or cultured
polished · suave · debonair · elegant · metropolitan · continental · well-bred · genteel · poised · charming
savvy
Practical shrewdness
- seasonedFlavored or battle-tested
- veteranExperienced former soldier
- knowledgeableHaving extensive information
astute · shrewd · perceptive · insightful · sage · judicious · enlightened · informed · well-traveled · discerning
skeptical
Inclined to question claims
- jadedDulled by overindulgence
- disillusionedFreed from false beliefs
- distrustfulLacking faith in others
wary · cautious · disenchanted · knowing · guarded · circumspect · suspicious · hardbitten · unsurprised · unshockable
realistic
True to life
- practicalSuited for real use
- down-to-earthPractical and without pretension
- no-nonsenseSerious and efficient
hardheaded · levelheaded · unsentimental · matter-of-fact · grounded · shrewd · calculating · opportunistic · adaptable · resourceful
worldly-wisenaive
Innocently unsuspecting
naïve · inexperienced · unworldly · innocent · green
worldly-wiseprovincial
Regional or narrow-minded
parochial · insular · rustic · sheltered · cloistered
wise, world, wisdom, worldly, otherworldly, underworld, unworldly