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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of smarts
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
Malhotra — who has more prototypical size for a top center — has the narrow edge on the final big board, but both Pronman and Button rank the 5-foot-9 Björck ahead of him, a testament to Björck's motor and smarts.
—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
19 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
The midwestern ensemble Greensky Bluegrass adds modern jam smarts to old folk instrumental traditions.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
And a nod to president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos for not meddling with the lineup — and having the smarts to trade for Dubón in the first place.
—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
6 June 2026
The linebacker known for his smarts started all 17 games for the Chiefs last season, recording 103 tackles, including two sacks.
—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
White admires Zuckerberg’s smarts, competitive instincts, and ability to run a full day of meetings on time.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
26 May 2026
James Hibberd,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
It's now launched a new range of smart glasses with AI smarts on board, sans those brand names.
—
New Atlas,
24 June 2026
Malhotra — who has more prototypical size for a top center — has the narrow edge on the final big board, but both Pronman and Button rank the 5-foot-9 Björck ahead of him, a testament to Björck's motor and smarts.
—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
19 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
The midwestern ensemble Greensky Bluegrass adds modern jam smarts to old folk instrumental traditions.
—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
6 June 2026
And a nod to president of baseball operations and general manager Alex Anthopoulos for not meddling with the lineup — and having the smarts to trade for Dubón in the first place.
—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
6 June 2026
The linebacker known for his smarts started all 17 games for the Chiefs last season, recording 103 tackles, including two sacks.
—
Jeff Fedotin,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
White admires Zuckerberg’s smarts, competitive instincts, and ability to run a full day of meetings on time.
—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
26 May 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for smarts
Noun
-
The versatility, the intelligence, the playmaking and that ineffable ability to win — the Frenchman was a basketball romantic’s dream.
-
As these systems begin to mirror and amplify human intelligence, agency, and even our flaws, the stakes become existential.
Verb
-
The clinic states that symptoms of the illness include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, headache, fever and body aches.
-
Most people have no symptoms, but mild symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, skin rash on trunk of body and swollen lymph glands.
Noun
-
Odysseus is a warrior with wit and intellect, a con man and fabulist who constantly reinvents himself.
-
His immediate presence was one of sharp intellect, efficiency and modesty.
Verb
-
Neighbors are worried the next crash could be the one that busts through their wall or hurts someone who lives in one of the nearby homes.
-
Sharper measurement helps an investor in one direction and hurts in another.
Noun
-
None of it was charity in the ordinary sense.
-
Swift's history of Fourth of July parties Perhaps another clue why the week of the Fourth of July makes sense for Swift and Kelce's wedding is that the popstar has long been known for throwing elaborate parties over the American holiday.
Verb
-
This one pains me as a Roth-era Van Halen fan, but there is no denying the band found incredible radio success with new frontman Sammy Hagar in the fold.
-
His disaffection baffles his acquaintances and pains his tubercular wife (a superb Quinn Jackson), whose doctor (Lambert Tamin) has only contempt for her husband’s agonizing.
Cite this Entry
“Smarts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/smarts. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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