Definition of clevernext
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as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind a clever student figured out a trick to do the assignment faster

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective clever differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of clever are adroit, cunning, and ingenious. While all these words 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

When might adroit be a better fit than clever?

The words adroit and clever can be used in similar contexts, but adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

Where would cunning be a reasonable alternative to clever?

The meanings of cunning and clever largely overlap; however, cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

When is it sensible to use ingenious instead of clever?

While the synonyms ingenious and clever are close in meaning, ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of clever Keep reading for even more clever, stylish solutions at Amazon to add to your outdoor space. Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 6 May 2026 This is my hands-down favorite purse because of the clever design. Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 5 May 2026 There are some clever exchanges, deep confessions and fun-loving moments involving breakfast cereal and TV reruns. Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 May 2026 The team's clever simulations traced the journey of various types of gas, carefully avoiding the usual shortcuts in models that can often lead to fuzzy answers. Paul Sutter, Space.com, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
  • In 2019, the Gucci and Saint Laurent owner launched the Kering Generation Award to scout innovative talent worldwide—an initiative that has since expanded to include a dedicated jewelry edition.
    Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 12 May 2026
  • Democrats in Congress have questioned the legality of some of those efforts, including a program that offers drugmakers expedited reviews for innovative medicines.
    Matthew Perrone, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • The next is making the grid intelligent enough to absorb that power at scale—flexible, predictive, and reliable.
    Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
  • An immersive, intelligent debut.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.
    Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 4 May 2026
  • As Michael moves into solo stardom and makes cunning business moves, the film captures how his seemingly naive idealism was also a form of ambition.
    Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
  • Kasdan gives viewers an intimate look at the witty Short, 76, through home footage shot by the star and interviews with early collaborators Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin and Catherine O'Hara, who died in January of a pulmonary embolism, following a rectal cancer diagnosis.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Yearning for a witty memoir or a lush Costa Rica setting?
    Michael Schaub, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • The Rosemary Rose, a rooftop lounge inspired by the French Riviera, draws a lively mix of locals and hotel guests with inventive cocktails, Mediterranean-leaning small plates, and sweeping city views.
    Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
  • Expanding beyond a single point of view, the film explores memory, time, and perspective through a formally inventive approach that blends fiction and documentary elements.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 8 May 2026
Adjective
  • There’s an imaginative kids club created in partnership with the French fashion brand Tartine et Chocolat and its Edmond Le Mouton (Edmond the sheep) character.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026
  • Tim Darcy has always been the man of a thousand voices — a wildly imaginative singer playing different roles, capturing the disintegration of the self from different angles.
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026
Adjective
  • January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.
    Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 May 2026
  • Aquarius January 20 – February 18 A smarter routine or work shift could make life feel noticeably lighter today.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 May 2026
Adjective
  • In these situations, even highly skilled engineers spend more time managing complexity rather than delivering value.
    Prashanthi Kolluru, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
  • Production infrastructure and skilled crew have kept up the pace too, Olguin says.
    Kathy A. McDonald, Variety, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 16 May. 2026.

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