1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the undeniable cleverness of the negotiator, who managed to get each side to believe that they had won
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in creativity
the skill and imagination to create new things
Cole Porter's overall cleverness with words, including his effortless ability to rhyme and pun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
-
At the heart of that debate is a nearly century-old legal precedent: Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, a 1935 Supreme Court ruling that limited the President’s ability to remove leaders of independent agencies without cause.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
17 Apr. 2025 -
Hunter’s defense, ball handling ability and 3-point shooting shined in March Madness and her inclusion in the starting five also brought out the best in Van Lith.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The combination of humor, humility, and skill made Arya stand out in a space dominated by polished perfection.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Liberal arts majors also tend to earn less than graduates in technical fields like engineering or math, largely because there’s less demand for their skills in higher-paying industries like technology and finance.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
26 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
This experience changed my life and my entire approach to creativity as a designer and an artist.—
Ralph Rucci,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2025
-
That edge matters—in talent retention, in creativity and in bottom-line performance.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
While state courts have increasingly dismissed climate lawsuits as meritless, superfund laws are growing in popularity as another way to gut U.S. energy prowess.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Not all fighting games necessarily need a massive, twisty plot, but in recent years series like Mortal Kombat and Tekken have stepped up to match their technical prowess with more complex storytelling.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
And while there’s some individual talent throughout the roster, the team hasn’t won anything with this core.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Still, she's come to terms with the fact that given her talent and aspirations, fame—and selfies—are always going to be part of the job.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
-
Noted for his tenacity and cunning, Khamenei is also a man of conviction, and his hatred for the United States is deeply felt.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
His idea appeared to be developing content about the club — not dissimilar to the manner in which Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have captured the imagination at Wrexham — and introducing Dagenham & Redbridge to new markets.—
Adam Crafton,
New York Times,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Just framing the intention that way will fire up the imagination of your team and set your sails to catch the wind of public opinion.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Prefer lighter, more aromatic reds with earthiness and finesse?—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
-
Devising the tools to fix it could require a degree in public finance, not to mention a talent for political finesse.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 29 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share