as in neatly
in a strikingly neat and trim manner
the smartly dressed scouts marched at the head of the Memorial Day parade
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Recent Examples of smartly
The trailer’s slick wordplay and motherly imagery smartly play on both Latto’s Big Mama persona and the pregnancy rumors that have emerged over the past couple of months.
—
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2026
Named after Argentine slang for the protein powder and pill cocktail that gym bros use to bulk up fast, and nodding to their own rapid rise, PAPOTA smartly distilled newfound fame into self-critique.
—Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The bed itself offers about 35 cubic feet of volume, plus a 7-cubic-foot frunk (front trunk)—not cavernous, but smartly designed and easily personalized.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Those who happen to wander close enough (or smartly follow the recommendation of the right post on social media) are roundly rewarded with an escape that feels at once impossibly old and startlingly new, totally obvious yet genius.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
Pogon Szczecin and Wisla Plock are perfect examples of clubs who have been operating smartly in the market in recent years.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The film is weird, singular and smartly acted — the culmination of a partnership between Curtis and Goldman that began eight years ago, with the latter fresh out of Wesleyan.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
Standard rooms are large by New York City standards, and smartly arranged for maximum floor space.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
Refreshingly—and smartly, given that much of the K-drama audience will have a propensity for story immersion as hobby—that is not what this Netflix series does.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
Kyle Denis, Billboard, 20 Mar. 2026
Named after Argentine slang for the protein powder and pill cocktail that gym bros use to bulk up fast, and nodding to their own rapid rise, PAPOTA smartly distilled newfound fame into self-critique.
—Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The bed itself offers about 35 cubic feet of volume, plus a 7-cubic-foot frunk (front trunk)—not cavernous, but smartly designed and easily personalized.
—Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 18 Mar. 2026
Those who happen to wander close enough (or smartly follow the recommendation of the right post on social media) are roundly rewarded with an escape that feels at once impossibly old and startlingly new, totally obvious yet genius.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Mar. 2026
Pogon Szczecin and Wisla Plock are perfect examples of clubs who have been operating smartly in the market in recent years.
—Colin Millar, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2026
The film is weird, singular and smartly acted — the culmination of a partnership between Curtis and Goldman that began eight years ago, with the latter fresh out of Wesleyan.
—David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 11 Mar. 2026
Standard rooms are large by New York City standards, and smartly arranged for maximum floor space.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Mar. 2026
Refreshingly—and smartly, given that much of the K-drama audience will have a propensity for story immersion as hobby—that is not what this Netflix series does.
—Kayti Burt, Time, 6 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smartly
Adverb
-
Pendant lighting by Devol hangs over the island, where Frama stools tuck in neatly.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Her fresh braids were laid and neatly tucked under her signature paisley bandana, adorned by gems that reflected the strobe lights.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Somaliland’s moment in Washington has been building for years, but the pace has accelerated sharply.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
20 Mar. 2026
-
In 2025, compliance checks dropped sharply to 369 after department leaders curtailed overtime spending amid a broader city budget crunch.—
Tony Plohetski,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The administration’s casual approach raises doubts about how carefully this consequential decision was considered.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
15 Mar. 2026
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The film unfolds through poetic and carefully composed images of the girls journeying through the mountainous landscape – an environment that reflects the girls’ inner world, according to Chen, capturing that fragile moment before childhood gives way to adulthood.—
Lise Pedersen,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Smartly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smartly. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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