1
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
an inventor who was constantly coming up with clever devices for doing everyday chores
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2
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
a clever student figured out a trick to do the assignment faster
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3
as in cunning
skillful with the hands
the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices
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4
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
a clever joke that requires a little bit of thought on the part of the listener
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5
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things
I wonder what clever person thought of the digital camera
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1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
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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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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 clever
Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025
The clever cat has also learned how to high-five and give his paw.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lingo, the faces, the concerns – all seemed, if not entirely authentic, then at least clever enough to create some backstage buzz.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Just make sure your clever solution doesn’t create additional fire hazards i.e. don’t hide cords under a rug.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Adjective
That’s a story that still resonates, as Ringwald notes, and one that could prove ripe for a remake, albeit with some creative and clever casting.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 18 Apr. 2025
The clever cat has also learned how to high-five and give his paw.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
The lingo, the faces, the concerns – all seemed, if not entirely authentic, then at least clever enough to create some backstage buzz.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025
Just make sure your clever solution doesn’t create additional fire hazards i.e. don’t hide cords under a rug.
—Maddie Topliff, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
-
Conservation groups say the spill catalyzed innovative restoration work across the Gulf Coast, but are alarmed at the recent halt of a flagship land-creation project in Louisiana.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Apr. 2025
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Serving on the Ralph Lowe Energy Institute board has reinforced my dedication to resource management and exploring innovative and sustainable solutions.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Yes, Love Hotel might be Bravo’s most emotionally intelligent experiment yet.—
Shelby Stewart,
Essence,
22 Apr. 2025
-
Talos, Pandora and other artificially intelligent entities had already set the stage for humans to explore this idea.—
Sofia Giannuzzi,
Smithsonian Magazine,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Esme forgoes a generic entreaty at the feet of her girlboss and instead makes a cunning personal plea for better judgment from her mentor.—
Angelica Jade Bastién,
Vulture,
25 Apr. 2025
-
John Krasinski plays Luke, a cunning art thief in the action adventure thriller Fountain of Youth, and puts his skills to good use.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Britt Lower, Patricia Arquette, and Christopher Walken co-star in this incredibly smart and witty sci-fi drama.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Heckerling's 1995 film, a loose adaptation of Jane Austen's witty novel of young love, Emma, centers on Silverstone's sunny, good-hearted, yet at times slightly daft heroine.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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An American named Thomas Keller set the bar ever higher with his highly inventive, multi-course California dinners at The French Laundry in Yountville.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
25 Apr. 2025
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The choreography by Warren Carlyle is sensational, energetic, and whimsical, making inventive use of props including pirouetting parasols, spectacular sabres, and fierce flagging.—
Christian Lewis,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
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
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While it’s long been a popular consumer service for sending money to friends, Venmo’s ability to drive meaningful revenue has been a major question mark for investors, especially as competition from rivals like Zelle and Square Cash has intensified.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
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
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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