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
-
Forty ships transited the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, according to data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, a number still significantly lower than the average daily crossings before the war with Iran started in February.
-
By allowing intelligence and learned capabilities to be shared across robot types, the platform aims to accelerate deployment, improve operational efficiency, and deliver a consistent experience across every aspect of hotel operations, claims Pudu.
Verb
-
Symptoms include fever, headache, body aches, vomiting, diarrhea or rash, according to the CDC.
-
Some people also experience body aches, headache or vomiting.
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
-
Losing in Game 7 already hurts enough, but losing in extra innings to the Los Angeles Dodgers is a real twist of the knife.
-
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.
Noun
-
Against that backdrop, some say the ships are offering a surprising sense of connection.
-
Since relocating to Los Angeles, Gonzalez’s small downtown team has scaled Happy Organics into a design-forward brand carried by major retailers, anchored in local maker communities and a sense of purpose.
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 3 Jul. 2026.
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