1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cleverness
Not everyone was taken with his cleverness.
—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Dinklage played Tyrion Lannister, who uses his cleverness and wit to cope with his father's rejection of him.
—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
That Aldous Harding makes this impulse look easy without sacrificing any of the cleverness or creativity that makes her music so immediate is striking, to say the least.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
If there’s cleverness to the way Lindsay-Abaire keeps passing the buck of hypocrisy between the members of the neighborhood association, there’s also a pervading sense of decorum that limits how far the satire can go.
—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
22 June 2026
Dinklage played Tyrion Lannister, who uses his cleverness and wit to cope with his father's rejection of him.
—
Victoria Edel,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
That Aldous Harding makes this impulse look easy without sacrificing any of the cleverness or creativity that makes her music so immediate is striking, to say the least.
—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
If there’s cleverness to the way Lindsay-Abaire keeps passing the buck of hypocrisy between the members of the neighborhood association, there’s also a pervading sense of decorum that limits how far the satire can go.
—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
-
The Patriots certainly have one of their best group of receivers, led by Paul Turner, who has speed and big-play ability.
-
Nearly everyone who has died is believed to be 65 years old or older, because of their more limited ability to cool themselves down due to poor blood flow and decreased ability to sweat.
Noun
-
While students honed their skills at the Santa Monica studio for the last year and four months, Blanck found an old pilates studio in Pacific Highlands for rent, but the numbers just didn't add up.
-
Those types of players are still enormously valuable because many of their skills are always valuable.
Noun
-
Your creativity is eager and focused as the Sagittarius moon coordinates with Saturn.
-
Produced by Milos-Films and shot at Hélium Films’ studios in Switzerland’s Lausanne, the short follows three handcrafted monkeys who transform a cold animation studio into a vibrant jungle through creativity, collaboration and resourcefulness.
Noun
-
Even so, Griner’s 6-foot-9 height and shot-blocking prowess are unique to any era.
-
There is no disputing his scoring prowess.
Noun
-
After taking over hosting duties from Padma Lakshmi in season 21, Kish is now the undeniable face of the series, one that represents the continuously evolving future of its programming, which prioritizes culinary skillfulness.
Noun
-
But without freedom, Berdyaev writes, creativeness is impossible.
Noun
-
By the time many of these rising talents were accruing debt in graduate writing programs, the dream of a sustainable career in the nonprofit theater had already gasped its last breath.
-
Yimvert Berroteran, a promising young talent, was among the hundreds of people who died, the Venezuelan national team and the Venezuelan Football Federation (FVF) said Friday.
Noun
-
Honest Abe is forced to scheme, relying on grit and cunning to win the votes to abolish slavery.
-
Unable to outrun the Bitchfist, the Hand earns his reputation for cunning and courage.
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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