ingenious

adjective in·ge·nious \ in-ˈjēn-yəs \

Definition of ingenious

1 obsolete :showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment

2 :having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving

an ingenious detective

3 :marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution

an ingenious contraption

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ingeniously

adverb

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ingeniousness

noun

See ingenious defined for English-language learners

See ingenious defined for kids

Examples of ingenious in a Sentence

How many dog-size bathrobes (an ingenious device) are out there? —David Colman, Vogue, April 2001
… spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to "unstick" the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data … —Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999
… an ingenious method of checking errors … —W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982
The book has an ingenious plot.
She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly.
It was ingenious of him to arrange the schedule so precisely.

Recent Examples of ingenious from the Web

An ingenious 9-year-old took it into his own hands to disconnect the security camera that was alerting his parents to his late-night television habits.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Boy Caught Crawling Like a Ninja to Unplug Security Camera So He Can Watch TV at Night," 17 Aug. 2017
Indeed, Kelly is an ingenious and entertaining critic, and an engaging writer.

— elaine showalter, New Republic, "Does "Pride and Prejudice" contain subversive political messages?," 15 Aug. 2017
What makes this book so radical—and thought-provoking—is its ingenious composition: fifty dart-like essays that shoot to the heart of an equal number of components of public health in the current age.

— clifton leaf, Fortune, "for coverage from TIME, Health, Fortune and more," 15 July 2017
Like going grocery shopping while hungry, passing up other ingenious furnishings will be a struggle. 78.

— marielle wakim, Los Angeles Magazine, "Best of LA: 92 of Our Favorite Things to Eat, Do, and Buy Right Now," 14 July 2017
Meanwhile, little critters like the ingenious Civic were waiting in the wings, ready to take over from the big-bodied Yankee dinosaurs.

— davey g. johnson, Car and Driver, "The Spirit of ’76: The Plucky Thrift of the Honda Civic," 3 July 2017
On a side note, Antheil’s ingenious way with mechanical objects got him inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2014.

— patrick neas, kansascity.com, "Four new classical CDs, including one by KC Symphony, worth a listen," 1 July 2017
The battery of percussion was there for a performance of Viktor Derivianko's ingenious arrangement of Shostakovich's Symphony No.

— special to the plain dealer, cleveland.com, "ChamberFest Cleveland leaves deep impression with Shostakovich in rare transcription (review)," 30 June 2017
A feisty heroine who drove an ambulance in France during World War I is the central character in this complex and ingenious novel about greed, dark secrets, and true love.

— melinda bargreen, The Seattle Times, "9 sunny new novels for beach reading," 29 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ingenious.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of ingenious

Middle English ingenyous, from Middle French ingenieus, from Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium natural capacity — more at engine

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First Known Use: 15th century

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ingenious Synonyms

Synonyms

clever, imaginative, creative, innovational, innovative, innovatory, inventive, original, originative, Promethean

Antonyms

uncreative, unimaginative, uninventive, unoriginal

Related Words

gifted, inspired, talented; resourceful; fecund, fertile, fruitful, generative, germinal, productive, prolific

Near Antonyms

imitative, uninspired; infertile, unproductive; talentless

Synonym Discussion of ingenious

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

INGENIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

ingenious

adjective

Definition of ingenious for English Language Learners

: very smart or clever : having or showing ingenuity

INGENIOUS Defined for Kids

ingenious

adjective in·ge·nious \ in-ˈjēn-yəs \

Definition of ingenious for Students

:showing ingenuity :clever

an ingenious idea

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ingeniously

adverb

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ingenious Synonyms

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INGENIOUS Defined for English Language Learners

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