1
as in innovative
showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing
an inventor who was constantly coming up with clever devices for doing everyday chores
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in intelligent
having or showing quickness of mind
a clever student figured out a trick to do the assignment faster
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cunning
skillful with the hands
the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices
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4
as in witty
given to or marked by mature intelligent humor
a clever joke that requires a little bit of thought on the part of the listener
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5
as in inventive
having the skill and imagination to create new things
I wonder what clever person thought of the digital camera
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clever
This clever little gadget cuts watermelon into cubes — straight from the rind — just by a little push and swipe.
—
Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 29 June 2025
Set in rural Ireland, Shanley’s clever yarn focuses on the unlikely romance between Anthony and Rosemary, longtime neighbors who explore the fine line between love and hate.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
The clever indoor-outdoor design of Le Paradis means that there are places to relax both inside and out.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
Even the cleverest plans leave room for a little improvisation.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Jeaneen Russell, People.com, 29 June 2025
Set in rural Ireland, Shanley’s clever yarn focuses on the unlikely romance between Anthony and Rosemary, longtime neighbors who explore the fine line between love and hate.
—Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2025
The clever indoor-outdoor design of Le Paradis means that there are places to relax both inside and out.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 25 June 2025
Even the cleverest plans leave room for a little improvisation.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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Sample the fruits of a burgeoning wine scene in the Finger Lakes A new crop of innovative winemakers is raising the bar in the Finger Lakes wine region, where unique grape varieties and low-intervention practices are increasingly replacing the sweeter wines long associated with the area.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
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Involve your team in brainstorming sessions to find innovative ways to achieve goals with limited resources.—
Shavonnah Schreiber,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Operation Bounce House follows Oliver Lewis, a colonist on the planet New Sonora, who leads a simple life on his family ranch, playing with his band and tending to his family's selection of intelligent agriculture bots.—
Rachel Raposas,
People.com,
14 July 2025
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Although not specifically marketed as a pet camera, the Eufy E220 is a budget-friendly indoor home security camera packed with typically more high-end features, including remote pan and tilt, sharp 2K video footage, automatic motion tracking, and intelligent motion and sound detection.—
Cierra Cowan July 11,
PC Magazine,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The Residence starred Uzo Aduba as quirky detective Cordelia Cupp, who uses her cunning intellect and obsessive bird-watching abilities to crack otherwise unsolvable cases.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
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As for steps that could be taken in the nineteenth century, Lyell managed to invent a cunning way to determine the relative age of geological strata.—
Lewis Hyde,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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On July 4, your celestial ruler, Venus, entered the sparkly and witty sign of Gemini, charming your ninth house of experience and self-discovery.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
10 July 2025
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No, really — with her sharp and witty books like this one and The Partly-Cloudy Patriot, Vowell does for history what Neil deGrasse Tyson does for science.—
Brian Boone,
Vulture,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Readers raved about the inventive New Mexican cuisine and the destination’s natural beauty—sitting at 7,000 feet, Santa Fe is at the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range and enjoys over 300 days of sunshine per year.—
Elizabeth Cantrell,
Travel + Leisure,
8 July 2025
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Whatever happens thereafter in David and Leslie Newman’s inventive and energetic script is inevitably some thing of a letdown although — not much.—
Arthur Knight,
HollywoodReporter,
7 July 2025
Adjective
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An imaginative builder can put the stones together in all sorts of combinations.—
Jennie Rothenberg Gritz,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 July 2025
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Verne’s imaginative fiction has inspired more and less faithful screen adaptations since the days of silent movies.—
Robert Lloyd,
Los Angeles Times,
29 June 2025
Adjective
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If you’re just getting started with rebounding and want something compact and easy to use (that doesn’t cost a small fortune), here’s a smart entry point.—
Jordan Galloway,
SELF,
15 July 2025
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Instead of chasing trends, smart companies stay committed to long-term brand building and reputation management.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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Others saw it as a humorous, if unsettling, glimpse into how AI is increasingly embedded in corporate communications.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 July 2025
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Mister Terrific, who is not a humorous man but is very funny because of it, gets very huffy over Superman’s jibes and storms off.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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