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
ingeniously
adverbingeniousness
nounExplore M-W
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
-
The Hanoi Hilton (1987) Heartbreakers (2001) Ingenious (2009)
-
Nail lacquer, which floats on water, is an ingenious medium for marbleizing ceramics.
-
His work is free of excess, giving the viewer freedom to find drama through the ingenious design of his dances.
-
Trump's attack on his successor is either totally dumb or completely ingenious.
-
The movie is predicated on an ingenious visual scheme of rhyme and repetition, but Adam Driver’s performance is the source of its most evocative poetry.
-
The layout is simple but ingenious and gives nearly all the space to the delightful, exuberant illustrations.
-
Others are more ingenious: To avoid literally watching the sleepless hours go by, hide the clock.
-
A cat walking through the world looks mighty different to various other creatures, such as a fox and a goldfish, as this delightful, ingenious book shows.
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
First Known Use: 15th century
Synonym Discussion of ingenious
INGENIOUS Defined for English Language Learners
ingenious
playDefinition of ingenious for English Language Learners
-
: very smart or clever : having or showing ingenuity
INGENIOUS Defined for Kids
Learn More about ingenious
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for ingenious Spanish Central: Translation of ingenious Nglish: Translation of ingenious for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of ingenious for Arabic speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up ingenious? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!