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
From clever watermelon slicers to brushes designed to slide into tight crevices, shop more surprisingly useful gadgets below.
—
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Six years ago, Orbitkey, known at the time mainly for their clever (and sometimes nerdy) key organizers, made a leap out of pockets and onto desktops.
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Bradley’s film choreography, even in the numbers that Footer deems masterpieces, is above average, clever and assured, but Astaire’s art—inconceivable without the enormous influence of Bradley’s Black contemporaries, like John Bubbles—is in another league.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
To keep the entire rack secure, there’s also a clever little lock that goes over the tip of the bolt holding the rack to your hitch.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 May 2026
Six years ago, Orbitkey, known at the time mainly for their clever (and sometimes nerdy) key organizers, made a leap out of pockets and onto desktops.
—Anthony Karcz, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Bradley’s film choreography, even in the numbers that Footer deems masterpieces, is above average, clever and assured, but Astaire’s art—inconceivable without the enormous influence of Bradley’s Black contemporaries, like John Bubbles—is in another league.
—Brian Seibert, New Yorker, 13 May 2026
To keep the entire rack secure, there’s also a clever little lock that goes over the tip of the bolt holding the rack to your hitch.
—Andrew P. Collins, The Drive, 13 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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Sign up for our weekly, original newsletter that goes beyond the annual Disruptor 50 list, offering a closer look at list-making companies and their innovative founders.—
Krysta Escobar,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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Goldschmied exits Daily Blue to launch Goldie, another woman’s jeans brands characterized by innovative production techniques like the use of pigments and garment dyeing.—
Maria Cristina Pavarini,
Footwear News,
18 May 2026
Adjective
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In a world where intelligent systems can respond to events faster than any human team, reactive leadership loses its edge.—
Rhett Power,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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The device incorporates controllable blades, on-board batteries and intelligent control systems, aimed at optimizing its operation in real conditions of operation on the high seas.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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Dano’s static line delivery gets used for a chilling but laconic effect as his character’s cunning political negotiations lead to deadly outcomes.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
13 May 2026
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There’s arguably no one better placed to collaborate with VFX artists on a motion-capture performance than Serkis, who’s delivered innocence, cunning, cruelty, longing, and kindness in roles that run from Golum to Caesar to King Kong himself.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
4 May 2026
Adjective
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Zabaglio’s brother, Jamie, visited from Washington and performed a witty free-form comedy act only a few slots after his sibling.—
Christopher Buchanan,
Los Angeles Times,
18 May 2026
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There are moments of great, witty tenderness here.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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Interest is surging in the tiny, bulbous legumes sometimes met with a shrug, as more Americans increasingly seek out cheap, healthy and inventive food.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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Cocktails are a mix of classic and inventive, with a carrot-ginger-turmeric juice laced with tequila gracing the Ninety Acres menu for fall and a martini paired with caviar in the Great Room.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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While the work influenced him, he was especially struck by the painting’s imaginative details and seemingly futuristic vision.—
Anthony DeMarco,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
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Using large-format Polaroid film and primarily shooting in his Paris studio, Roversi’s dream-like and imaginative compositions have been able to transcend time.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
15 May 2026
Adjective
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There is no analogous player in this squad to Grimaldo; Marc Cucurella, the man who has displaced him in the Spain team, is positionally smart but a more effective off-ball runner than on-ball playmaker.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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The clients who will be best positioned are the ones making smart decisions today — not the ones reacting to a tax bill six months from now.—
Greg Raiff,
Fortune,
16 May 2026
Adjective
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In these situations, even highly skilled engineers spend more time managing complexity rather than delivering value.—
Prashanthi Kolluru,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
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Production infrastructure and skilled crew have kept up the pace too, Olguin says.—
Kathy A. McDonald,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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