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smart 1 of 4

adjective

ˈsmärt How to pronounce smart (audio)
Definition of smartnext
1
as in intelligent
having or showing a practical cleverness or judgment a smart investment that has really paid off

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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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smart

2 of 4

verb

as in to hurt
to feel or cause physical pain the injection only smarted for a moment

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smart

3 of 4

noun

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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smart

4 of 4

adverb

as in smartly

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of smart
Adjective
Movingstyle Portable Smart Monitor This smart monitor can be moved around and comes perched on a stand with wheels for easy portability around the office! — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026 Some felt that Ballmer was too smart to be involved in this sort of chicanery. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026
Verb
The 90-6 vote showed lawmakers are still smarting from the two historic shutdowns that occurred this past year and want to avoid another before voters go to the polls. — Kevin Freking, Arkansas Online, 28 July 2026 One day soon, will smart tech be able to model a brisket stall and calibrate one of these smart smokers to push it through to completion at the press of a button? — Noah Kaufman, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
Noun
Ben Affleck and a Jeopardy alum are putting their wicked smarts to good use. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 30 July 2026 Recent news about literacy, education and general smarts in California and across the country has been somewhat distressing. — Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026
Adverb
Seats can be trimmed in a smart-looking gray wool blend, part of Volvo’s effort to eliminate leather use by 2030. — cleveland, 24 Sep. 2022 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 See All Example Sentences for smart
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smart
  1. intelligent
  2. clever
  3. witty
  4. elegant
  5. stylish
  6. cute
  7. sophisticated
  8. hurt
Adjective
  • Silicon Labs said the new laboratory expands its ability to develop secure and intelligent wireless technologies as demand for connected devices grows.
    — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Just over four months later, Google introduced Universal Cart, an intelligent shopping cart that allows consumers to add products from different retailers and purchase them through a single checkout.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of intelligent
Adjective
  • Then an 81-year-old Phil Rizzuto gets into a car and drives off with third base — an especially clever bit, since Rizzuto, as a broadcaster, was famous for leaving early to beat the traffic across the George Washington Bridge.
    — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • It is treated as a quick fix for automation or a clever add-on that makes existing workflows smoother.
    — Tal Dagan, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of clever
Adjective
  • Politically savvy, wickedly and playfully witty, and in close touch with humanity’s many facets, Roger Simon was among the most admired newspaper columnists of his generation at a time when that world was rich in that species of wordsmiths.
    — Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 10 Sep. 2026
  • The debut piece was a witty, literary look at the history and enduring appeal of McSorley’s, a pub on East Seventh Street in Manhattan.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of witty
Adjective
  • Specs AccordionItemContainerButton Upsides AccordionItemContainerButton Downsides Instead of constantly kicking that pile of shoes to the side by your entryway, give them an elegant home with this tilt-out storage cabinet.
    — Lauren Arzbaecher, Architectural Digest, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The New York Times recently showcased 41 of the greatest Mexican restaurants across the country, from taco trucks to elegant eateries with tasting menus.
    — Alexiah Syrai Olsen, Sacbee.com, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of elegant
Adjective
  • Next on my list are a few pairs of new shoes that will be versatile and functional, but still stylish—I’m not asking much, right?
    — Natalie LaBarbera, InStyle, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Grab this stylish pair of wireless headphones today for just $79.
    — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of stylish
Adjective
  • Style this maxi skirt with a dressy blouse, tights, and tall boots for a cute date night ensemble, or dress it down with a sweater and sneakers for more low-key days.
    — Mia Huelsbeck, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Everyone was amazed that, yes, this teeny tiny thing was actually a functioning camera that could take relatively good pictures, and not just a cute, decorative keychain.
    — Jamie Spain, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of cute
Adjective
  • Modern submarine programmes involve sophisticated engineering, propulsion, sensors, communications, combat systems and long-term industrial support.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Only truly sophisticated taste, in this code, grasps the superiority of deprivation over the more ethnic notions of actual comfort and good food.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of sophisticated
Verb
  • Brown hurt his right ankle on the Pats’ opening drive of the third quarter.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Sep. 2026
  • Walker is the piece that could liven up a Chiefs offense that felt anemic at times in 2025, even before Mahomes got hurt.
    — Daniel Popper, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurt

Phrases Containing smart

Browse Nearby Words

smarm
smart
smart-aleck
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Cite this Entry

“Smart.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smart. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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