1
as in intelligent
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment
a smart investment that has really paid off
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clever
having or showing quickness of mind
a smart child who will do well in school
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3
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
something one sees so rarely on TV: a smart sitcom
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4
as in elegant
being strikingly neat and trim in style or appearance
dressed in their smart new uniforms, the cadets proudly paraded around the grounds of the military school
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5
as in stylish
being in the latest or current fashion
boutiques specializing in smart clothes for cosmopolitan women
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6
as in cute
making light of something usually regarded as serious or sacred
just joked and made smart comments during the ceremony
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7
as in sophisticated
having a wide and refined knowledge of the world especially from personal experience
a novelist who got much of the material for his works by hanging out with the smart set
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1
as in tingle
a sharp unpleasant sensation usually felt in some specific part of the body
the toddler was whining over the smart from the cut
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2
as in sense
smarts plural
the ability to learn and understand or to deal with problems
she had the smarts to start college at age 16, but perhaps not the emotional maturity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in smartly
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smart
Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
There’s people smarter than me that can talk about the quirks of this moment.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
It’s been 10 years since Fantastic Four flopped, but its box-office failure still smarts for star Miles Teller.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Jimmy Butler used his smarts and muscle to carve out space for tricky shots and deft passes.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2022
No smart-shaming allowed here.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for smart
Adjective
Window boxes are another smart way to make use of vertical space.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 31 Jan. 2026
There’s people smarter than me that can talk about the quirks of this moment.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 31 Jan. 2026
Verb
Though Maia’s apparently now crushing being Tallulah’s manager in terms of getting her lucrative deal$, Tallulah’s still smarting from the embarrassment of her cheesy Ritz ad, leaving her unmotivated to keep going with whatever new ideas Maia puts in front of her.
—Caroline Framke, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
It’s been 10 years since Fantastic Four flopped, but its box-office failure still smarts for star Miles Teller.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Who wouldn’t be happy, living life with so much talent or smarts?
—Isabel Fattal, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Jimmy Butler used his smarts and muscle to carve out space for tricky shots and deft passes.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 12 Jan. 2026
Adverb
The stand has a sleek design made from thin but sturdy fiberglass, pieced together in a smart-looking Z-shape.
—Thomas Hindle, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Apr. 2022
No smart-shaming allowed here.
—Neil Senturia, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2022
See All Example Sentences for smart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smart
Adjective
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Its intelligent navigation helps ensure effective coverage, while the real-time self-cleaning system helps maintain a cleaner roller with each pass.—
William Jones,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
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According to Charles Darwin, survival belongs not to the strongest species, nor the most intelligent, but the one most adaptable to change.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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On the upside, brilliant solutions or clever ideas might suddenly occur to you.—
Georgia Nicols,
Denver Post,
31 Jan. 2026
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NearTap is another clever feature that lets the user adjust the volume level using simple taps of the finger in front of the ear.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Despite its heavy premise, Dying for Sex is a lithe and witty marvel that celebrates life and lust in equal measure.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Jan. 2026
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On this set, the Argentine pair is daring, humorous, and witty on each track, and delivers a genre-defying blend of funk, jazz, pop, soul, and hip-hop.—
Sigal Ratner-Arias,
Billboard,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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When paired with the right boots, leggings can even rise to the level of elegant occasion wear.—
Amber Rambharose,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
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According to interior designers, these four countertop colors are their go-tos for creating modern yet classic spaces that feel elegant and livable.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The brand has amassed a following of loyal travelers who live for its sleek, stylish, and functional bags.—
Jasmine Gomez,
Travel + Leisure,
30 Jan. 2026
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The TiLink is a stylish bracelet that doubles as a 24-in-1 multifunctional toolkit.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Matching lounge sets meet all the criteria of a great one-and-done airport outfit — they’re made from soft material, don’t require outfit planning, and actually look cute.—
Emily Weaver,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
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Each heart has a little black outline of a heart inside of it, creating cute sketched vibes.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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However, in recent years, expanding through acquisitions has required more sophisticated thinking and execution.—
Amelia Lucas,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2026
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From warm neutrals to deep earth tones, designers agree that countertops in 2026 will strike a delicate balance between sophisticated and unexpectedly playful.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Other concerns are that power-hungry data centers fed by natural gas generators can hurt air quality, consume water and intensify climate damage.—
Conor Harrison,
The Conversation,
3 Feb. 2026
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Australian freestyle skier Laura Peel hurt her knee in a training camp ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, raising doubts about her participation in a fourth Games.—
Mark Scaglione,
NBC news,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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