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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleverness
The finding speaks to the cleverness of Kea (Nestor notabilis), mountain-dwelling parrots with a reputation for impish intelligence.
—
Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 20 Apr. 2026
Even so, a little magic has crept into the proceedings, with some brands concealing their cleverness in plain sight and others putting more of the horological art on display.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
And his creativity and cleverness flashed on some really slick, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head sequences.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The humor spawned by Emma’s confession will strike some as deeply unfunny, while others might uncomfortably chuckle at its cleverness.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Another owner proudly mentioned her Corgi, known for its cleverness and ability to find its way home.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
But this is where MadEvolve really shines with its cleverness.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Such is the cleverness of the writing.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Elizabeth Anne Brown, Scientific American, 20 Apr. 2026
Even so, a little magic has crept into the proceedings, with some brands concealing their cleverness in plain sight and others putting more of the horological art on display.
—Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
And his creativity and cleverness flashed on some really slick, eyes-in-the-back-of-his-head sequences.
—Scott Wheeler, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2026
The humor spawned by Emma’s confession will strike some as deeply unfunny, while others might uncomfortably chuckle at its cleverness.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
Another owner proudly mentioned her Corgi, known for its cleverness and ability to find its way home.
—Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 23 Mar. 2026
But this is where MadEvolve really shines with its cleverness.
—Paul Sutter, Space.com, 22 Mar. 2026
Such is the cleverness of the writing.
—Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
As to the famous fine line between stupid and clever, the stupidity and the cleverness are all but inextricable, and to the point.
—Television Critic, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
-
Dispensaries on tribal land were the first to open because of their sovereignty and ability to make their own rules.—
Frankie McLister,
CBS News,
12 Apr. 2026
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The day-long prohibition came less than a week after Middle District Judge Sheri Polster Chappell issued an order expanding Alligator Alcatraz detainees’ access to their lawyers and their ability to use phones at the remote pop-up facility.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The former three-star recruit has the production, movement skills and temperament to hear his name early.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
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Students learn an abundance of skills in business, art and design, fashion design, photography, software development, and more.—
Chris Wragge,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Pop-ups are another major pipeline connecting and feeding our creativity.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
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The intuitive Moon is waltzing through your sign, partnering with innovative Uranus in your creativity zone along the way.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Such was the case in Georgia’s newspaper and magazine world, where Lee Walburn’s literary prowess helped shape the styles and careers of Southern writers and recast Atlanta’s city magazine as a literary powerhouse.—
Mark Woolsey,
AJC.com,
21 Apr. 2026
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Michael’s songwriting prowess is distilled down to snappy, silly montages that involve a lot of pacing and still more ruminating.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.—
Andrew McDiarmid,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
What makes Raphael so difficult to appreciate is that his greatest talents are, in a way, invisible.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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The extraordinary talent of this year’s semifinalists is a powerful reminder that the future of vocal music in Orange County is bright.—
Heide Janssen,
Oc Register,
19 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Maybe the mere fact of having been born illustrious, with no apparent faults, with nothing to prove or to be ashamed of, had liberated John from the resentments the rest of us feel, and from the cunning and ambition such resentments fuel.—
Jeffrey Eugenides,
New Yorker,
4 Apr. 2026
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The Brazil international combines technical craft with a decisive cunning.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Unlike my writing, which is tightly constructed and works to make meaning of experience, my art relies most heavily on imagination.—
Gabe Montesanti,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
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Only when the moment is over does the universe expand again, waiting for Johnson’s imagination to explore it.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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