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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cunning
skillful with the hands
the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
This clever design allows the fuel cell to maintain efficiency without relying on expensive materials.
—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
Or even as a clever marketing gimmick.
—Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
The speaker has a few clever design elements.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
His performance stood out from the hardworking fieldhands around him because of his clever wordplay and his impressive dance moves.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 26 Mar. 2026
Or even as a clever marketing gimmick.
—Alexandra Hildreth, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2026
The speaker has a few clever design elements.
—Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026
His performance stood out from the hardworking fieldhands around him because of his clever wordplay and his impressive dance moves.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
-
Newer spots like Morzelleria Scinduta de’ Barracchi in Catanzaro, which reimagines the city’s beloved morzello, or De’ Minimi in Tropea, signal a new generation honoring Calabrian flavors while pushing them forward in a thoughtful and innovative way.—
Jenna Curcio,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The technologies being developed at PARC were innovative, but addressed the corporate office equipment market that Xerox dominated with its 914 copier.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Flexible loads, intelligent storage, and advanced demand coordination should be treated as capacity resources in grid planning, with regulatory frameworks updated accordingly.—
Brian Barlow,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This innovation signals a shift toward more intelligent, cooperative, and autonomous forms of warfare.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.—
Neringa Klumbytė,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Although this year’s edition of the Oscars, which aired on ABC on March 15, was hardly in the class of the 1972 installment, there was at least one moment that recalled Johnson’s witty, graceful sendup of stars commandeering the ceremony to climb atop their soapbox.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Keynote and PowerPoint both include exciting transition effects, but Apple’s are slightly wittier.—
Edward Mendelson,
PC Magazine,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The basics are done well here too, with an excellent 24-hour coffee shop and patisserie off the lobby, a little café by the pool mixing inventive smoothies every morning, and an elevated snack bar at the heart of the resort, serving fresh, fluffy tacos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This will include everything from simply great hours of stand-up to inventive or wildly ambitious offerings that are big swings but may or may not completely hit the mark.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Outschool focuses on students ages 3-18 and encourages imaginative classes rather than strict curricula.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Robert is a creative and imaginative boy with a bright personality and a big heart.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The Mets, Phillies and Braves are smart, draft well, develop players and spend big.—
Greg Cote
Updated March 27,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Despite standing at 6-foot-2 and playing a game more suited for a forward six inches taller, Payton entered Friday night having made 16 consecutive field goals, the vast majority of them being opportunistic dunks and layups off smart cuts and putbacks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The participants range from marine and freshwater biologists and other scientists to highly skilled recreational divers and documentary filmmakers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Iowa coach Ben McCollum said the first- and second-round showing for the conference speaks to its amount of skilled players and experienced coaches.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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