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. 2003Some thought he had no redeeming value whatsoever. A sociopath. A clever manipulator …—Louise Erdrich, New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2002Those 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 1987The 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.
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The combination of clear instructions, clever engineering and high-energy videos makes CrunchLabs stand out among subscription boxes, offering a yearlong experience that feels fresh with each delivery.—Emily Glover, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025 Luckily, clever Frances must have understood her caper was destined for failure.—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2025 During the past decade, Tranter has established himself as one of the music industry’s most reliable hitmakers, thanks to his clever, boisterous lyricism and dramatic, over-the-top choruses and hooks.—Ethan Millman, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025 Thanks to its functional and clever design, the Everywhere Belt Bag is our favorite fanny pack after weeks of testing.—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for clever
Word History
Etymology
Middle English cliver, perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Danish dialect kløver alert, skillful
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