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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of smarts
Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Your blood sweat tears brilliant smarts heart and soul in every single frame.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Book smarts and tech skills like using AI aren’t enough by themselves; human skills are essential to apply all that knowledge in the professional environment.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The group — comprising Gorman, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Lululemon Athletica CEO Calvin McDonald and Sir Jeremy Darroch, the former head of Sky broadcasting in Britain — have been evaluating the smarts, stamina and public appeal of each candidate.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
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
Doan uses his smarts, high energy and heavy frame to dominate puck battles, control the boards and break up plays in all three zones.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Known for his smarts, humor, and boisterous charm, Quentin was the youngest of Teddy’s six children.
—Fiona Donovan, Vanity Fair, 30 Dec. 2025
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Buffalo has the quarterback in Josh Allen but not the organizational smarts.
—Dave Hyde, Sun Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Your blood sweat tears brilliant smarts heart and soul in every single frame.
—Elizabeth Rosner, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026
Book smarts and tech skills like using AI aren’t enough by themselves; human skills are essential to apply all that knowledge in the professional environment.
—Mark C. Perna, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
The group — comprising Gorman, General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Lululemon Athletica CEO Calvin McDonald and Sir Jeremy Darroch, the former head of Sky broadcasting in Britain — have been evaluating the smarts, stamina and public appeal of each candidate.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
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
Doan uses his smarts, high energy and heavy frame to dominate puck battles, control the boards and break up plays in all three zones.
—Harman Dayal, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
Known for his smarts, humor, and boisterous charm, Quentin was the youngest of Teddy’s six children.
—Fiona Donovan, Vanity Fair, 30 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarts
Noun
-
Piantedosi presided over a meeting of law enforcement and intelligence services on Tuesday to discuss security for the Games.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
28 Jan. 2026
-
As Moore’s Law continues to compound and intelligence moves decisively to the Edge, AI and Digital Twins are becoming foundational layers of the global economy.—
Phil Kafarakis,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This loss is unexpected and surreal, and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Christine Imarenezor,
VIBE.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
This loss is unexpected and surreal and my heart aches… for his family, for his wife, for his children, for his friends, and for all of us who were blessed to know him.—
Michael Saponara,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
This immersion trained his instinct more than his intellect.—
Desjah Altvater,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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While the likes of Philo and Trotter have expanded upon the idea by prioritizing people whose intellects align with their brand values, Jacquemus takes it to another level.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Stifling them hurts my back and stomach muscles.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
-
And what hurts us much more is not writing.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
In that sense, the film answers its own question.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
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To get a better sense of that, CBS News Bay Area spoke with Arkesha Baquet, co-owner of Li'l Dizzy's Café in New Orleans, home of Super Bowl LIX.—
Max Darrow,
CBS News,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But regret pains them like a knot in their shoulders.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Smarts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarts. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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