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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Recent Examples of smarts
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
His combination of star power and smarts is such that a jury is going to give him far more attention than, say, some random NASCAR executive trying to say that the race teams have it good and should be grateful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Then nickels, where foot quickness, toughness and smarts are paramount.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
The poodle—whether standard, miniature or toy—remains a top pick for obedience and agility lovers, noted for its smarts and graceful athleticism.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Finding his family under threat from a pair of psychotic local gangsters, Roman must use both his stock-market smarts and his family’s crematorium to curry favor with, and finally overcome, his enemies.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
What once was an offense dictated by feel and smarts has turned into a rote exercise of clank.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Few couples combine star power, smarts, and style quite like George and Amal Clooney.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 2025
James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
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
His combination of star power and smarts is such that a jury is going to give him far more attention than, say, some random NASCAR executive trying to say that the race teams have it good and should be grateful.
—Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 6 Dec. 2025
Then nickels, where foot quickness, toughness and smarts are paramount.
—Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 6 Dec. 2025
The poodle—whether standard, miniature or toy—remains a top pick for obedience and agility lovers, noted for its smarts and graceful athleticism.
—Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2025
Finding his family under threat from a pair of psychotic local gangsters, Roman must use both his stock-market smarts and his family’s crematorium to curry favor with, and finally overcome, his enemies.
—Emma Alpern, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
What once was an offense dictated by feel and smarts has turned into a rote exercise of clank.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Nov. 2025
Few couples combine star power, smarts, and style quite like George and Amal Clooney.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 31 Oct. 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
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Many of these soldiers are still involved in supporting Ukraine, including by providing intelligence, logistics, and training assistance worth at least tens of billions per year.—
Jennifer Kavanagh,
Washington Post,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The hackers accessed emails for staffers on the China, foreign affairs, intelligence, and armed services committees, according to a new Financial Times report.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Super flu virus symptoms The subclade K variant of flu A causes similar symptoms to other strains, including high fever, severe body aches, extreme fatigue, persistent cough, sore throat and intense headaches.—
Lori Comstock,
Freep.com,
6 Jan. 2026
-
My heart aches for you and for your beautiful little girls.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The persecution of Trotsky and the Moscow Trials, which caused a rift in the American left, revealed the weakness of Cowley’s party-line political thinking, just as all his other work demonstrated the scope of his literary intellect.—
Vince Passaro,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
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Mister Terrific emerges as one of Superman’s smartest anchors, threading intellect through a story preoccupied with power, trust, and what the world expects its heroes to be.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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In seismic papers, Borjas’s research described the drawbacks of immigration, including his oft-cited, though much-disputed, findings that the arrival of lower-skilled immigrants hurts American workers who compete for jobs, especially poor people and African Americans.—
Lauren Kaori Gurley,
Washington Post,
7 Jan. 2026
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That one still hurts a little bit.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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So there's really no choice but for the four major conference commissioners to compile a set of rules and guidelines that make at least a marginal bit of sense.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Create a sense of order by clearing those surfaces of holiday-specific decor.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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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 13 Jan. 2026.
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