ingenious

adjective in·ge·nious \ in-ˈjēn-yəs \

|Updated on: 21 Aug 2018

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Examples: ingenious in a Sentence

Definition of ingenious

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

an ingenious detective

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

an ingenious contraption

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

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ingeniously

adverb

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ingeniousness

noun

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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 immediate goal of the restrictions is to prod Hamas to abandon what has been an ingenious and, for Israel, exasperating tactic.

— New York Times, "Unable to Stop Flaming Kites, Israel Moves to Choke Off Gaza Commerce," 9 July 2018
Though not always persuasive, Nadel’s interpretations are ingenious, insightful, and illuminating.

— glenn c. altschuler, Philly.com, "Alan Nadel's 'Demographic Angst': The dark anxieties behind 1950s films," 15 June 2018
Although legally ingenious, the E.U. stance is unlikely to hold water: The U.S. has explicitly invoked the national security exception — Section 232 of U.S. trade law.

— krzysztof j. pelc, Washington Post, "The U.S. broke a huge global trade taboo. Here’s why Trump’s move might be legal.," 7 June 2018
The overdriven rendition didn't pause for much detail and nuance, foregoing Mozart's ingenious, darker woodwind colorations in favor of determined ebullience.

— rick schultz, latimes.com, "L.A. Chamber Orchestra musicians offer a fitting remembrance for one of their own," 22 May 2018
But ever ingenious, at the GOP congressional retreat this week, Ryan tried one more gambit, as Politico reported: [T]he Wisconsin Republican is back at it again, repackaging his proposals in hopes of gaining traction on welfare reform.

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "Ryan To Unemployed Poor: Let ‘Em Eat Job Training," 1 Feb. 2018
Legos and a smartphone are two of the key components to this ingenious MacGyver-worthy device.

— allison barrie, Fox News, "Innovative project harnesses Legos and smartphones in the fight against invisible, deadly weapons," 13 July 2018
Her release is a half-way house toward freedom, really a new form of restriction, another ingenious type of detention-equivalent administered by a [People’s Republic of China] that spawns new types of detention almost every day.

— emily rauhala, Washington Post, "Poet Liu Xia escaped China, but will Beijing ever set her free?," 13 July 2018
The discovery of several unexpected uses for detachable limbs is scarcely the least ingenious of this movie’s borrowing-and-repurposing gambits.

— justin chang, latimes.com, "Dwayne Johnson scales the heights in the thrillingly dumb 'Skyscraper'," 11 July 2018

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

in the meaning defined at sense 3

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ingenious Synonyms

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.