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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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Francisco Alvarez is back from his stint in the minor leagues, more confident in his abilities at the plate and behind it.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
22 July 2025 -
On a per-snap basis, Banks was one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in college football last season due to his ability to generate force to the football.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
22 July 2025
Noun
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As this technology improves, the gap between human skill and robotic precision will continue to shrink.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 July 2025
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But Williams didn’t set a high enough bar in her only skills challenge round.—
Ben Pickman,
New York Times,
19 July 2025
Noun
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His life reflects a deep and continuous pursuit of learning, creativity, and balance.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
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But Astronomer unexpectedly chose a different path that included irony, creativity, and self-aware transparency.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
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In the ensuing 18 years, Dark Matter Coffee has shown its prowess.—
Gary Stern,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
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However, with no proven track record of making powerful and reliable engines, Red Bull has a heavy weight on its shoulders, and Verstappen's confidence in the team's technical prowess is yet to be known.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 July 2025
Noun
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The continuity will help, especially considering 2024 district champion Arlington Bowie lost a fair amount of offensive talent.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 July 2025
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With an unrivaled pool of creative and executive talent to draw from across Los Angeles, the question was always who from the worlds of film and television would Casey Wasserman tap to add Hollywood sizzle to the 2028 Olympic Games.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one 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.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
22 July 2025
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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.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Social media has become much of the atmosphere in the telling and digestion of crimes in the American public’s imagination of them.—
Jim Halterman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
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Like a game of cat-and-mouse, society will need to be vigilant and remain alert for those who let their imaginations roam wildly.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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There are plenty of bad and undercooked versions of this, but Atherton Lin traverses both territories with intelligence and finesse.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
26 July 2025
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The Yarden label showcases their premium wines, known for their structure and finesse.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 31 Jul. 2025.
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