1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in skill
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something
the undeniable cleverness of the negotiator, who managed to get each side to believe that they had won
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in creativity
the skill and imagination to create new things
Cole Porter's overall cleverness with words, including his effortless ability to rhyme and pun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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Consumers that do not want to be contacted have the ability to limit or eliminate advertising.—
Julian Canete,
Oc Register,
4 June 2025 -
So just months before the restaurant’s 2021 opening, he was placed on house arrest—and saw his empire of sober-living homes crumble and his ability to obtain new business licenses blocked because of his felony conviction.—
Kizzy Cox,
Essence,
4 June 2025
Noun
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For example, someone who’s the go-to person in navigating the team’s tools may want to improve their negotiation or decision-making skills.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
13 June 2025
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Both coaches, who have been in Stanley Cup Finals before and in hockey their whole lives, remarked on the pace, physicality, the quality of hockey from board battles to open ice skill plays.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
13 June 2025
Noun
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At The Horse Shoe Farm, an 85-acre boutique resort in the Blue Ridge Mountains, the Turchin family has created a unique enclave of creativity, serenity, and natural beauty.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
8 June 2025
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In those eight years, the whirlwind of creativity was prodigious, and Basquiat is now established as one of the world’s most valuable artists.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
7 June 2025
Noun
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Aspiring leaders or new managers don’t have to be in a leadership position to start building their leadership prowess.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
9 June 2025
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Loca Loka co-founder Ravichander is one of India’s most renowned musicians, famed for his singing, writing, instrumental prowess and production both in films and on record.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
3 June 2025
Noun
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There was a concern Forest would have to cash in on either Morgan Gibbs-White or Murillo — the Brazilian who retains the unusual talent, for a defender, of being truly exciting to watch — to keep themselves out of PSR trouble.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
6 June 2025
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Pittsburgh has the talent on the roster to win at a high level with a star quarterback under center.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 June 2025
Noun
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On the other end of the spectrum was the more docile Kelly who often felt conflicted when her morals clashed with the cunning needed to succeed in the game.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
27 May 2025
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But Waltz also advocated for further diplomatically isolating President Vladimir Putin — a position that was out of step with Trump, who has viewed the Russian leader, at moments, with admiration for his cunning in dealings with Trump’s predecessors.—
Matthew Lee,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2025
Noun
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Environment builders go beyond the production of discreet, individual objects–like paintings or sculptures–to create entire worlds of imagination taking over their surroundings.—
Chadd Scott,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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As per Forbes, at least a dozen oarfish washed up onto Japan's coastline in the year before the 2011 Fukushima earthquake and tsunami, which brought the deep-sea creatures back to the forefront of the imagination.—
Thomas Westerholm,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
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My company relies on advanced CRM systems to navigate these relationships with finesse.—
Adam Povlitz,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
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Most impressive of all is the way Rodriguez-Elliott conducts her large ensemble through rapid scene changes with gliding finesse.—
Charles McNulty,
Los Angeles Times,
21 May 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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