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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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 is a clever bit of curation that encourages visitors to get to know Allen, still an emerging artist, beyond her sculptures.
—
Nina-Sophia Miralles, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
In my experience, tripod stools like this one tend to wobble on uneven ground, but GCI has solved that issue with a clever piece of fabric around the legs that stops them from splaying out.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025
As a clever nod between old and new, her dress was finished with Christian Louboutin shoes.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 21 May 2025
For apartment dwellers and people who prefer not to dangle midair, this clever contraption looks like a window-cleaning game changer.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Nina-Sophia Miralles, Forbes.com, 28 May 2025
In my experience, tripod stools like this one tend to wobble on uneven ground, but GCI has solved that issue with a clever piece of fabric around the legs that stops them from splaying out.
—Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 28 May 2025
As a clever nod between old and new, her dress was finished with Christian Louboutin shoes.
—Michael Nied, People.com, 21 May 2025
For apartment dwellers and people who prefer not to dangle midair, this clever contraption looks like a window-cleaning game changer.
—The Washington Post, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here).—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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As an actor, he's worked with many of the most innovative filmmakers in the U.S., including Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski), Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, The Dead Don't Die), and Abel Ferrara (King of New York), among many others.—
Randall Colburn,
EW.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Second, a human must be kept in the loop of intelligent machine decision-making processes.—
John Werner,
Forbes.com,
8 June 2025
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In 1950 the Italian physicist Enrico Fermi was discussing the possibility of intelligent alien life with his colleagues.—
Philip Ball,
Wired News,
8 June 2025
Adjective
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Hawkins knows exactly how to play Laura’s cheery psychopathy and cunning cruelties, and Wong, in her first film role, gives Piper a spirited independence.—
Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Rigg’s voice is sharp and engrossing, her characters cunning but affable.—
Isle McElroy,
Vulture,
21 May 2025
Adjective
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Adding witty sayings to the leaves of handheld fans, Knighten wanted to make a statement with her products in a fun and unique way.—
Ruth Etiesit Samuel,
Essence,
4 June 2025
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This bold, witty new play follows two sets of Armenian Americans: one man fighting for legal recognition in the 1920s, while a century later, his descendant fights for followers and a competent glam team.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
3 June 2025
Adjective
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Our public spaces will be programmed by some of the most inventive and creative teams in experiential streetscapes.—
Kissa Castaneda,
Forbes.com,
2 June 2025
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Her latest release, February’s Net Work EP, features four inventive and frequently hard-hitting productions that feature collaborators including Lunice, Machinedrum and Sam Binga.—
Katie Bain,
Billboard,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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In years to come, these five films will be studied and appreciated not only as models of cinematic stealth and resourcefulness but also as a series of wry, even whimsical, self-portraits—a triumph of imaginative reflection under duress.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
27 May 2025
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For Marder, the world-building became another imaginative component to explore.—
Bill Desowitz,
IndieWire,
26 May 2025
Adjective
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With the longer battery life, lighter design and smart safety features, this jetpack is definitely for anyone looking to make their underwater adventures more exciting.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
9 June 2025
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Moreover, waving the flag of a foreign country isn’t prideful, or politically smart in the least.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Adjective
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Popular posts might feature a photo with a humorous caption, an anonymous confession, or a detailed technical answer to a complex question.—
Dan Cody
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 June 2025
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In his feature debut, Dupont follows the two men with a sense of empathetic detachment and an appreciation for fine detail and humorous dialogue.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
3 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 12 Jun. 2025.
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