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
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Since then, the Trump administration has frozen $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard, threatened to strip its tax-exempt status and take away its ability to enroll foreign students, while demanding information on the university's foreign ties, funding, students and faculty.—
Nate Raymond,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025 -
Expecting perfection, or guarding against our own humanity coming through, is also detrimental to our ability to be present for the good parts of the date.—
Myisha Battle,
Time,
29 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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This experience changed my life and my entire approach to creativity as a designer and an artist.—
Ralph Rucci,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2025
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That edge matters—in talent retention, in creativity and in bottom-line performance.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Alabama is still Alabama, with plenty of talent on hand and a coach who has won everywhere he’s been.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
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Listen to this article 2 min Kate Middleton demonstrated a hidden talent while on a royal trip to Scotland with her husband, Prince William.—
Elizabeth Stanton,
FOXNews.com,
30 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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
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Francis captured the imaginations of believers and non-believers alike. 10:57 Pope Francis, whose time as head of the Catholic Church was noted for an everyman humility and outreach efforts to people of disparate backgrounds and faiths, has died at 88, the Vatican has confirmed.—
Phoebe Natanson,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Prefer lighter, more aromatic reds with earthiness and finesse?—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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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
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Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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