clever

adjective

clev·​er ˈkle-vər How to pronounce clever (audio)
1
a
: skillful or adroit in using the hands or body : nimble
clever fingers
b
: mentally quick and resourceful
a clever young lawyer
2
: marked by wit or ingenuity
a clever solution
a clever idea
the play's clever dialogue
3
dialect
a
: good
b
: easy to use or handle
cleverish adjective
cleverly adverb
cleverness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for clever

clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving.

clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude.

a person clever with horses

adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

synonyms see in addition intelligent

Examples of clever in a Sentence

All of Laptsev went to stare at the bride-to-be—she was no beauty, but everyone could see that she was clever, sophisticated … Isaac Bashevis Singer, New Yorker, 29 Sept. 2003
… the three of them may give Gray Davis, who was too clever for his own good, his comeuppance. Garrison Keillor, Time, 25 Aug. 2003
Some thought he had no redeeming value whatsoever. A sociopath. A clever manipulator … Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2002
Those who can't write poetry, write clever letters to the editor. Those who can't write clever letters to the editor, write angry letters to the editor. Matt Groening, Utne Reader, November/December 1987
The old lady was clever enough and he thought that if she had started from any of the right premises, more might have been expected of her. Flannery O'Connor, Everything That Rises Must Converge, 1967
Some cats are clever enough to figure out how to operate doorknobs. That's the cleverest idea I've heard yet! She found a clever hiding place for the letter. See More
Recent Examples on the Web New Chargers coordinator Kellen Moore answered by unveiling a more physical ground game and clever changes in tempo. Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Sep. 2023 Finding work nowadays comes with all the same emotional twists and turns as finding a date: there's longing, hope, clever DMs, anxiety, and also ghosting. Brad Mislow, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2023 And clever minds may even spot the murder weapon and maybe even the guilty party or parties. Kaely Monahan, The Arizona Republic, 9 Sep. 2023 But there’s a big difference between being loud and rude and being hilarious, cutting, or even clever. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2023 Like clever vultures, PE companies finance their purchases with debt and then dun unsuspecting customers to earn back their investment and more. Michael Kazin, The New Republic, 8 Sep. 2023 Luckily, fans have been praising Netflix for sticking pretty closely to the original story, including the fight scenes and clever foreshadowing. Temi Adebowale, Men's Health, 8 Sep. 2023 Keep scrolling for more clever Halloween decorations under $50. Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2023 Leave everything in the default settings, and the wagon will prioritize electric driving, lolling quietly down the road until juice runs low or the right pedal gets pushed in anger—a clever icon on the digital cluster's power gauge marks the point where more throttle will engage the engine. Andrew Krok, Car and Driver, 29 Aug. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'clever.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cliver, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish dialect kløver alert, skillful

First Known Use

circa 1595, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of clever was circa 1595

Dictionary Entries Near clever

Cite this Entry

“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/clever. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

clever

adjective
clev·​er ˈklev-ər How to pronounce clever (audio)
1
: showing skill especially in using one's hands
clever fingers
2
: quick in learning
a clever pupil
3
: showing wit or imagination
a clever idea
cleverish adjective
cleverly adverb
cleverness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on clever

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