1
as in ability
mental skill or quickness
it takes real cleverness to find a way around the rules
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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On a per-snap basis, Banks was one of the most disruptive interior defensive linemen in college football last season due to his ability to generate force to the football.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
22 July 2025 -
Their ability to unify data, automate execution and adapt messaging at scale enables marketing teams to move faster, work smarter and engage customers more meaningfully than ever before.—
Aleks Farseev,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
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Project Runway might've returned with a new roster of designers flexing their fashion skills on the main stage, but one contestant's emotions unspooled in front of the judges when he was placed in the bottom.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Sports captivates communities because achievement in sports—especially team sports—requires more than just talent, effort and skill.—
George Atallah,
Sportico.com,
31 July 2025
Noun
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His life reflects a deep and continuous pursuit of learning, creativity, and balance.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
26 July 2025
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But Astronomer unexpectedly chose a different path that included irony, creativity, and self-aware transparency.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
Noun
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Under Allan’s servant leadership, Panasonic Energy has become the leading global supplier of cylindrical lithium-ion batteries, both in scale and technical prowess.—
Allan Swan,
Forbes.com,
29 July 2025
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Isak is an athletic dribbler with the power, technical prowess and eye for goal that teams covet.—
Anantaajith Raghuraman,
New York Times,
28 July 2025
Noun
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The continuity will help, especially considering 2024 district champion Arlington Bowie lost a fair amount of offensive talent.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 July 2025
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With an unrivaled pool of creative and executive talent to draw from across Los Angeles, the question was always who from the worlds of film and television would Casey Wasserman tap to add Hollywood sizzle to the 2028 Olympic Games.—
Peter Kiefer,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Noun
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Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Joe Otterson,
Variety,
22 July 2025
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Despite being outnumbered 50-to-1 by the Five Families of the Italian mafia, The Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
Noun
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Social media has become much of the atmosphere in the telling and digestion of crimes in the American public’s imagination of them.—
Jim Halterman,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
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Like a game of cat-and-mouse, society will need to be vigilant and remain alert for those who let their imaginations roam wildly.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Noun
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There are plenty of bad and undercooked versions of this, but Atherton Lin traverses both territories with intelligence and finesse.—
Lauren Michele Jackson,
New Yorker,
26 July 2025
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The Yarden label showcases their premium wines, known for their structure and finesse.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
19 July 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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