1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleverness
At times, Kavalier is played as a type of Willy Wonka figure, but without any of Wonka’s cleverness.
—
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
What connects them is the cleverness of the writing and the ability of their actors to sell even the silliest of jokes.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 27 Aug. 2025
What connects them is the cleverness of the writing and the ability of their actors to sell even the silliest of jokes.
—Tanya Melendez, EW.com, 16 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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So too does the front office, which traded away multiple draft assets, including the ability to draft All-Star Sonia Citron, to acquire former Olympian Ariel Atkins in the 2025 offseason.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
6 Sep. 2025
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That includes better interest rates and the ability to borrow more money.—
Robert Faturechi,
ProPublica,
6 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Martin’s energy onstage always skyrockets and his performance skills are undiminished.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Alfons Freij is a mobile defenceman with enough puck skill to impress, but whose decision-making needs improvement before being considered an NHL player.—
Murat Ates,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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That’s what my focus has been — about creating a strong culture of creativity of the importance of design.—
Emily Mercer,
Footwear News,
6 Sep. 2025
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Boldness and audacity are a protection for creativity against fear.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Tens of thousands of spectators in Beijing looked on as the People’s Republic unveiled laser weapons, nuclear ballistic missiles, and giant underwater drones alongside armored vehicles, tanks, and parading soldiers whose marching prowess put the rest of the world to shame.—
Kerry Brown,
Time,
4 Sep. 2025
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Lockhart is known for its barbecue prowess and plays host to a number of joints, including Barbs B Q, which is in the Michelin Guide Texas and is on Texas Monthly’s list of the best barbecue in the state.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Leeds are tipped to survive the drop after adding Premier League experience and European talent to their ranks.—
Jack Bantock,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
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Bhutia is part of India's digital growth story that is creating entrepreneurs, drawing investments, and attracting global tech giants, fueled in large part by a gigantic talent pool and tech userbase.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Luke Shaw’s technique and cunning at centre-back deserved to be better rewarded.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
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Others praised the pup's cunning.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The irony is that, after a tough couple of decades, the package holiday sector had recaptured the imagination of investors once more.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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Despite the mess in her apartment, the man, like everyone else in her life, brushes off her fears as the exaggerations of an overactive imagination.—
Marya E. Gates,
IndieWire,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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As robotics continues to advance, systems like HITTER point to a future where machines are strong and capable and agile and adaptable, able to perform tasks with the speed and finesse once thought to be uniquely human.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
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The images use natural light to bring this idea to life with finesse.—
Thomas Waller,
Footwear News,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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