cleverly

adverb

Definition of cleverlynext
as in neatly

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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 cleverly Don’t miss the Barnes & Noble, which is cleverly housed in an old theater, Auntie Bellum’s Attic Antique Shop, and Firefly Boutique for women’s clothing. — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 29 Aug. 2026 Within a mind-spinning eight months, Zori Timeless Hotel was born, cleverly converted from the old pension into four luxurious residences within the confines of strict planning regulations that forced them to use the existing space. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Aug. 2026 Speaking with Rolling Stone in 1984, Beard credited Ham for cleverly booking ZZ Top support gigs on tours with headliners that weren’t likely to leave an impression. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 18 Aug. 2026 The first unit incorporates several modern innovations that are cleverly incorporated so as not to detract from her classic character. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2026 Randau cleverly uses different visuals to show Kersten and his wife’s description of the same incident. — Alissa Simon, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 Sculptures whimsically assembled from chairs, lamps, and a filing cabinet pulled from Cultural Center storage get roped off by floor tape that cleverly extends the artworks themselves, upending standard museum practice while also sticking to it. — Lori Waxman, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026 Both Yoon and Hoke also structure their works with staccato-like page breaks—a decision that cleverly evokes spans of creaturely silence. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The initial construction of the mask’s mouth is impressive, with long studs and angled pieces to cleverly but accurately recreate the classic triangle. — Matt Gardner, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverly
  1. neatly
  2. cleanly
  3. dexterously
  4. aptly
  5. nimbly
Adverb
  • The woman’s head of auburn curls, so neatly assembled and without a hair out of place, was flung to the side and her cheek, powdered with rouge, was now as red as a sunset.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Looking at his pizza chart from last season, Mbaye’s low cross volume (five out of 99) but high link-up play (86 out of 99) suggest an inside forward who prefers to combine neatly with team-mates before attacking the box.
    — Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of neatly
Adverb
  • The $800-million plan would replace two of the plant’s aging units with turbines that can run on a combination of natural gas and hydrogen, which, when produced cleanly, generates no planet-warming carbon dioxide.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
  • This is why strategy and execution cannot be separated cleanly into two phases.
    — Alex Brueckmann, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of cleanly
Adverb
  • Yet Göring dominates the movie thanks to Russell Crowe’s performance, somehow both indulgently big and dexterously subtle.
    — Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 11 Dec. 2025
Definition of dexterously
Adverb
  • What industry needs is execution at speed and scale that aptly reflects the competitive reality facing European manufacturing.
    — Can Dinçer, Fortune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • At 3,400 feet in the Allegheny Mountains, the Glades exist in a place where cold air sinks from the surrounding mountain slopes into low hollows—aptly called frost pockets.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of aptly
Adverb
  • Over the years, however, the actress has proven herself remarkably versatile, pivoting nimbly from frothy rom-coms and broad comedies to searing dramas, psychological thrillers, and big-budget spectacles.
    — Chris Bellamy, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Kids climbed nimbly onto traffic signs.
    — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 18 June 2026
Definition of nimbly

Browse Nearby Words

cleverish
cleverly
cleverness
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Cite this Entry

“Cleverly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverly. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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