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
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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
So the question is whether audiences can find any emotional hook amid all this cleverness.
—
Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
That insight — that the key was scale, not cleverness — fundamentally reshaped OpenAI.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Why Border Collies Excel This display of canine cleverness comes as no surprise to experts.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Kirk Honeycutt, HollywoodReporter, 20 Oct. 2025
That insight — that the key was scale, not cleverness — fundamentally reshaped OpenAI.
—Mackenzie Sigalos, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2025
Why Border Collies Excel This display of canine cleverness comes as no surprise to experts.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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This Epicka Universal Travel Adapter is a T+L favorite overall pick due to its four different plug types that are compatible with over 200 sockets worldwide and its ability to charge up to six devices at once.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Oct. 2025
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The key to raising emotionally resilient kids is the ability to repair.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Encourage your self-expression in verbal and written skills.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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Teachers and parents are worried that regular chatbot use could weaken important skills such as communication, empathy and critical thinking.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Friendship for Breakfast Fallon and Swift’s friendship has long been rooted in humor and creativity, from surprise appearances on The Tonight Show to shared behind-the-scenes moments.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 Oct. 2025
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As more employees filter into the building next year, the $3 billion investment reflects Dimon’s broader bet on the future of office life, built on the conviction that real culture and creativity thrive only when people work side by side.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Fix Our Forests Act will help to unleash the conservation prowess of ranchers by limiting frivolous litigation and streamlining government processes to reduce fuel loads on the landscape at a much faster pace.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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Boys participated in tournaments that tested their martial prowess, glorifying the idea of fighting on behalf of Putin.—
Tetiana Kotelnykova,
The Atlantic,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Browns clearly need help at the wide receiver position, but Gabriel's arm talent has not stuck out much.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The supermodel sisters have been very vocal about Mohamed's culinary talents.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
22 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Federico Marchetti, the Italian fashion entrepreneur, is a master of sprezzatura—the courtier’s art of cloaking ambition and cunning in an air of guileless nonchalance.—
John Seabrook,
New Yorker,
29 Sep. 2025
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But Israeli cunning, buoyed by remarkable intelligence capabilities and precision targeting, has damaged the group.—
Sean Durns,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The goal is to reconnect with your own unique curiosity and imagination.—
Cas Holman,
CNBC,
21 Oct. 2025
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Whether the Monster is part of Ana’s imagination or not, the scene carries a fragile, haunting power, suggesting that the only person capable of rescuing Ana from the pervasive mystery and misery of her home life belongs to the supernatural, outside the punishing borders of Franco’s Spain.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Failliet is a slang Dutch term that translates as ‘bankrupt’ so the name loosely means ‘finesse or bust’.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
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Computing this circular definition requires some mathematical finesse.—
Jack Murtagh,
Scientific American,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
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