1
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
an inventor who was constantly coming up with clever devices for doing everyday chores
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
a clever student figured out a trick to do the assignment faster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cunning
skillful with the hands
the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices
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4
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
a clever joke that requires a little bit of thought on the part of the listener
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things
I wonder what clever person thought of the digital camera
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clever
Grab clever shoe racks, hall trees, upholstered benches, and sleek console tables.
—
Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Their only hope is to get to a nearby island, a situation made harder – and much more tense – by a clever great white, noteworthy for being a real shark rather than a CGI one like most films use.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Its clever PositionIQ technology automatically detects its position and tunes the audio for the best possible sound.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Dachshunds are clever hunters, bred hundreds of years ago in Germany to sniff out badgers.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Their only hope is to get to a nearby island, a situation made harder – and much more tense – by a clever great white, noteworthy for being a real shark rather than a CGI one like most films use.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2026
Its clever PositionIQ technology automatically detects its position and tunes the audio for the best possible sound.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 8 Apr. 2026
Dachshunds are clever hunters, bred hundreds of years ago in Germany to sniff out badgers.
—Mindy Schauer, Oc Register, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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Audio Flux is a home for innovative, short-form audio and bold storytelling.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
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The state, like Pastor Billy’s organization, has emerged as a laboratory for innovative ideas for harnessing technology to help break down barriers holding people back.—
Rajiv J. Shah,
Baltimore Sun,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Building on earlier Osmo Pocket models, the new version doubles down on image quality and intelligent shooting tools.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
17 Apr. 2026
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Industry estimates suggest that Tesla shipped fewer than 500 intelligent robots in 2025, highlighting the gap between prototypes and large-scale deployment.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Past friends and former associates described him to me as an exceptionally cunning con man, a consummate charmer, and a womanizer.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
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Starring Charlize Theron, Taron Egerton, and Eric Bana, the film was shot on location in the Australian wilderness and features Theron as a grieving woman on a solo adventure who becomes the target of a cunning killer (Egerton) in a twisted game of cat-and-mouse.—
Abid Rahman,
HollywoodReporter,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Fallen Angels itself — about a pair of witty, worldly besties who get blitzed on champagne while considering cheating on their husbands with a mutual old flame — landed its author in trouble with the censors in London.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
20 Apr. 2026
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While Edebiri is fantastic in the wittier sequences, her dramatic turns lack an effortless authenticity.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Co-owner and executive chef Sergio Moutela puts an inventive spin on Italian cuisine on the BYOB restaurant's everchanging menus, including brunch.—
USA TODAY NETWORK,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
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Directly overlooking the river, with two-Michelin-star chef Alex Dilling at the helm, this venue offers inventive French gastronomy with elite proteins flown in weekly.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Act Two is a little more musically imaginative.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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To most Americans, Roald Dahl is a children’s book author — the imaginative, intimidating, and somewhat insane mind behind beloved books like Matilda, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, and The BFG.—
Elisabeth Garber-Paul,
Rolling Stone,
19 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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This smart toaster is designed to evenly toast bagels, bread, waffles and more from edge to edge, delivering a crisp exterior while keeping the inside soft.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
11 Apr. 2026
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This navy Continental Carry-on Luggage blends durability with smart design details that frequent travelers will appreciate right away.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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And their second-best defender, Jaden McDaniels, is skilled at calling the Nuggets’ names.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
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While one research study found REIT investments were associated with higher spending on nursing wages, another concluded that after being bought by REITs, nursing homes frequently replaced registered nurses with less skilled nurses and aides.—
Jordan Rau,
Miami Herald,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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