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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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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clever
That’s a story that still resonates, as Ringwald notes, and one that could prove ripe for a remake, albeit with some creative and clever casting.
—
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025
The clever cat has also learned how to high-five and give his paw.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lingo, the faces, the concerns – all seemed, if not entirely authentic, then at least clever enough to create some backstage buzz.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Just make sure your clever solution doesn’t create additional fire hazards i.e. don’t hide cords under a rug.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025
The clever cat has also learned how to high-five and give his paw.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lingo, the faces, the concerns – all seemed, if not entirely authentic, then at least clever enough to create some backstage buzz.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Just make sure your clever solution doesn’t create additional fire hazards i.e. don’t hide cords under a rug.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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Conservation groups say the spill catalyzed innovative restoration work across the Gulf Coast, but are alarmed at the recent halt of a flagship land-creation project in Louisiana.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Serving on the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute board has reinforced my dedication to resource management and exploring innovative and sustainable solutions.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Yes, Love Hotel might be Bravo’s most emotionally intelligent experiment yet.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Apr. 2025
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Talos, Pandora and other artificially intelligent entities had already set the stage for humans to explore this idea.—
Sofia Giannuzzi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
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John Krasinski plays Luke, a cunning art thief in the action adventure thriller Fountain of Youth, and puts his skills to good use.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Put all those elements together, and the show remained fun and witty and insightful despite all of its darkness because viewers never got attached to any one character.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
24 Apr. 2025
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Deborah botches the presser that follows by refusing to respond to ageist, sexist questions with witty banter — a totally foreseeable scenario that Ava anticipated and prepared for, but Deborah tossed Ava’s jokes in the trash.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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The choreography by Warren Carlyle is sensational, energetic, and whimsical, making inventive use of props including pirouetting parasols, spectacular sabres, and fierce flagging.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
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An American named Thomas Keller set the bar ever higher with his highly inventive, multi-course California dinners at The French Laundry in Yountville.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Theater is a dynamic environment for imaginative people to do cool things, and audiences will opt in.—
Ashley Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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The show, aimed at 4-8s, follows the adventures of two imaginative siblings who stumble upon VR headsets that take them to Storyland, a world built on iconic stories from Indian mythology and folklore.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Her principles opened our eyes to this smart, eco-conscious way to design any room.—
Paige Porter Fischer,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Apr. 2025
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Even smart bulbs and other kinds of smart lighting often require less power than traditional lights.—
Simon Hill,
Wired News,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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There were humorous moments amid the writers’ accounts of tragedy.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2025
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When the slasher eventually appears, stealing the group’s car before murdering them with a humorous bluntness, there is also a real atmosphere of dread.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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