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
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
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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The video player page includes a description, links to similar content, and the ability to give a film a thumbs up or thumbs down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Oct. 2025
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He was being put through training recently to test his ability to stay calm under pressure as Douglas tried to overstimulate his senses.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Dayforce will today release its annual pulse survey of roughly 7,000 workers in six countries, showing that 71% of workers have not received AI training in the past year—even though 63% of workers say developing such skills is important.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
6 Oct. 2025
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To be funny while playing a character who’s sweet and endearing (even when calling his friends idiots) is a skill, and Bad Bunny has it.—
Rima Parikh,
Vulture,
5 Oct. 2025
Noun
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But when talking about fashion, creativity has to be the leading force and the most relevant force.—
Miles Socha,
Footwear News,
4 Oct. 2025
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Presented by the Savannah College of Art and Design, the SCAD Savannah Film Festival is filled with cinematic creativity from award-winning professionals and emerging student filmmakers.—
Jazz Tangcay,
Variety,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Perhaps, for example, someone such as Sharp might be best suited reviewing power-play shifts with a scoring winger, considering his prowess in that area of the game as a player.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
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Known for his attention to detail and curatorial prowess, Nahem enlisted an army of artists and craftspeople to infuse every corner of the 3,700-square-foot space with creative flair.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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In all of these places, the broad availability of talent—whether as founders, knowledge workers, or highly skilled blue-collar workers—is viewed as one core element of the corporate ecosystem’s success.—
Peter Vanham,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
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In conversation, Blunt’s admiration for Johnson is clear, and so is her interest in making sure other people recognize his talents and capabilities.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
1 Oct. 2025
Noun
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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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This view, for me at least, more than anything else connects the dots of our historically informed imagination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
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As his imagination grows into vast cities and impossible creatures, fantasy blurs with reality.—
Christian Blauvelt,
IndieWire,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The clothing for the three match days included polos made from an innovative stretch fabric, and a knitted V-neck vest crafted from high-finesse Wish wool.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
30 Sep. 2025
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Additions like maple and honey round out the bitterness and tartness, creating balanced cocktails with depth and finesse.—
Essence,
Essence,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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