Synonyms of smarts

smarts 1 of 2

noun

plural of smart

as in intelligence

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• intelligence
• intellect
• sense
• reason
• talent
• brainpower
• intellectuality
• brain(s)
• wit
• aptitude
• mentality
• gray matter
• wisdom
• insight
• brilliance
• acumen
• intellectualism
• headpiece
• astuteness
• mind
• perspicacity
• discernment
• braininess
• judgment
• alertness
• perception
• sagacity
• common sense
• apprehension
• highbrowism
• horse sense
• discriminability
• percipience
• sapience
• eggheadedness
• mother wit
• skull
• head

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• density
• dumbness
• idiocy
• stupidity
• foolishness
• slowness
• dullness
• imbecility
• feeblemindedness
• dopiness
• denseness
• fatuity
• simpleness
• doltishness
• senselessness
• half-wittedness

smarts

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of smart

as in aches

to feel or cause physical pain

the injection only smarted for a moment

Synonyms & Similar Words

• aches
• hurts
• pains
• throbs
• tingles
• swells
• stings
• cramps
• racks
• itches
• bleeds
• bites
• nags
• pinches
• burns
• chafes
• pounds
• twinges
• suffers
• torments
• tortures
• agonizes
• festers
• anguishes
• harrows
• afflicts

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of smarts

Noun

Recent news about literacy, education and general smarts in California and across the country has been somewhat distressing. — Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

Making your home smart shouldn’t require renovating, and the smarts should be mostly invisible. — David Pierce, The Verge, 12 July 2026

Her reputation among All3 staff is strong, with many praising her business smarts and supportive nature. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 10 July 2026

Kelce spotlighting Swift’s intelligence A true golden retriever boyfriend distinguishes himself by appreciating his partner’s smarts. — Emma Specter, Vogue, 2 July 2026

Gordon showed speed and smarts to pounce on the loose ball and quickly find the feet of his captain. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 2 July 2026

It's now launched a new range of smart glasses with AI smarts on board, sans those brand names. — New Atlas, 24 June 2026

Barry provides riveting, rewarding action without sacrificing smarts or character development. — Alexandra Oliva, The Atlantic, 12 June 2026

In the end, even after his shimmering wit and formidable smarts led him to a career of delightful diversions into everything from aesthetics to neurophysics to Pink Floyd, Stoppard went back to his own beginnings. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

Verb

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