When it comes to meanings of words, there’s denotation, which is a word’s explicit or direct meaning, and there’s connotation, a word’s associated or implicit meaning. For example, the word frugal on its surface means (denotes) efficient money management (nothing wrong with that!). The connotation of this word, however, might be stinginess or even avariciousness. As any synonym seeker knows, the connotation of a word varies greatly depending on context!

As you might guess from the look of it, judicious is all about sound judgment—but not necessarily in the courtroom. This adjective means “having, exercising, or characterized by good or discriminating judgment.” Someone who is judicious is sensible, levelheaded, and well advised in their decisions and actions. The adjective judicial (so close in spelling and very easy to confuse) is the better choice for describing matters pertaining to judgment in courts of justice.

Strength takes many forms: there’s physical strength, as in muscular power, but there’s also mental and emotional strength. That’s where fortitude comes in. Fortitude refers to mental and emotional strength in facing difficulty, adversity, danger, or temptation courageously. Someone who displays great fortitude has tremendous resolve and is able to stay the course for what they think is right, no matter what challenges arise.