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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in cunning
skillful with the hands
the Shakers were clever artisans who created many ingenious and highly useful devices
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Leaf mimicry is an especially clever form of camouflage.
—
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Their studio is known for clever recycling — like the copper lamp base that Faber found on a sidewalk and twisted into a faucet at their old Greenpoint rental.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Apr. 2026
Zara Home does a clever take on Japanese design here, with a makeup organizer that evokes a dark cypress tea cabinet (here, made of acacia wood).
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Not all marketing The renegade spirit isn't all clever marketing.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 Apr. 2026
Their studio is known for clever recycling — like the copper lamp base that Faber found on a sidewalk and twisted into a faucet at their old Greenpoint rental.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 2 Apr. 2026
Zara Home does a clever take on Japanese design here, with a makeup organizer that evokes a dark cypress tea cabinet (here, made of acacia wood).
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
Not all marketing The renegade spirit isn't all clever marketing.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
-
There’s a fierce competition in the Italian capital to see who can open the most beautiful, most original, most innovative, and most locally authentic hotel.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Their broader vision has been to create something that feels more intentional than a traditional brokerage model, pairing local expertise with innovative strategy while keeping client interests at the center of the process.—
Connie Etemadi,
AZCentral.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Flexible loads, intelligent storage, and advanced demand coordination should be treated as capacity resources in grid planning, with regulatory frameworks updated accordingly.—
Brian Barlow,
Fortune,
28 Mar. 2026
-
This innovation signals a shift toward more intelligent, cooperative, and autonomous forms of warfare.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In state media comedy shows, jokes about Putin are told from time to time, but they are used to bolster his image as a powerful, cunning leader, and hold up Russia as a great country.—
Neringa Klumbytė,
The Conversation,
4 Mar. 2026
-
These ambitious, cunning, and often amoral Cold War operatives were usually marginal or even inconsequential figures at home.—
Alfred McCoy,
Literary Hub,
26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Only a geeky, witty male pal (Jon Cryer) sees her worth, until one day, quite remarkably, rich-kid McCarthy takes an interest.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As the two form a tentative connection, the grift is soon threatened in this sharply witty and entertaining new comedy from Oscar®-winner Steven Soderbergh.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The basics are done well here too, with an excellent 24-hour coffee shop and patisserie off the lobby, a little café by the pool mixing inventive smoothies every morning, and an elevated snack bar at the heart of the resort, serving fresh, fluffy tacos.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This will include everything from simply great hours of stand-up to inventive or wildly ambitious offerings that are big swings but may or may not completely hit the mark.—
Hershal Pandya,
Vulture,
30 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Outschool focuses on students ages 3-18 and encourages imaginative classes rather than strict curricula.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Robert is a creative and imaginative boy with a bright personality and a big heart.—
MARE Staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Going beyond the basics of a typical smart scale, the MorphoScan breaks down segmental muscle and fat for each arm, each leg, and your torso, similar to a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scan, which is essentially a medical imagery test to gauge these same attributes.—
Andrew Gebhart,
PC Magazine,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Police in Ann Arbor want all fans coming to town to celebrate this weekend to make smart decisions.—
Terell Bailey,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Although Cleopatra and Nefertiti are more well-known, Hatshepsut stands out as one of the most skilled and successful female rulers of the ancient world.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Manufacturers and employers across diverse industries throughout our state rely on these institutions to educate engineers, health care professionals, teachers, data scientists and other skilled workers emerging from this talent pipeline.—
Mark Denzler,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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