Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ingenious differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ingenious are adroit, clever, and cunning. While all these words mean "having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving," ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

In what contexts can adroit take the place of ingenious?

The meanings of adroit and ingenious largely overlap; however, adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

When is it sensible to use clever instead of ingenious?

The words clever and ingenious can be used in similar contexts, but clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude.

a person clever with horses

When might cunning be a better fit than ingenious?

Although the words cunning and ingenious have much in common, cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ingenious Only Bay, Stahelski, Chow, and Snyder create ingenious, breakneck visions of force. Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025 Best Wooden Rattle An ingenious design adds a modern twist to a classic nursery favorite. Pamela Brill, Parents, 22 May 2025 The effect could have been achieved through new stills with longer necks or a different shape, but this sort of ingenious tweak is key to the legacy of Fettercairn thinking outside of the box. Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 As the Great Depression began, Hay’s salt-of-the-earth approach charmed the audience, while WSM made several ingenious business decisions that shaped popular music forever. Lindsay Kusiak, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for ingenious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ingenious
Adjective
  • Hiccup is an inventive, awkward teen who's an outsider among his fellow Vikings.
    Brian Truitt, USA Today, 13 June 2025
  • Alexander-Arnold had long been an inventive force in England and would have added to his scrapbook of spectacular assists and goals as coach Arne Slot’s squad seeks more trophies.
    Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • The argument that Trump has violated the 10th Amendment is a clever subversion of a line of thinking that has traditionally been backed by conservative judges, said Erwin Chemerinsky, the dean of the UC Berkeley School of Law.
    Laura J. Nelson, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2025
  • That dish is clever, for sure, but it’s served in an oddly gargantuan portion, and its playful clash of textures and temperatures wears out its welcome after a bite or two.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI, including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here).
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
  • As an actor, he's worked with many of the most innovative filmmakers in the U.S., including Quentin Tarantino (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction), Joel and Ethan Coen (Fargo, The Big Lebowski), Jim Jarmusch (Mystery Train, The Dead Don't Die), and Abel Ferrara (King of New York), among many others.
    Randall Colburn, EW.com, 7 June 2025
Adjective
  • Lent by the Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Bronze Age vessels for food and wine and imaginative animal sculptures are on view for the first time in New York through July 13.
    Jane Levere, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • In recent years, other artists have released similarly imaginative rerecordings.
    Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • Sanlorenzo Arts–a creative hub dedicated to the artistic and cultural initiatives of luxury yacht pioneers Sanlorenzo–has been unveiled in Venice during the inaugural Venice Climate Week (3-8 June, 2025), as the lagoon city presents la Biennale di Architettura.
    Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025
  • Ahead of this year’s Annecy Animation Festival, Variety spoke with the producers who are making waves in the region to better understand what’s behind this creative boom and what challenges remain.
    Jamie Lang, Variety, 6 June 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ingenious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ingenious. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ingenious

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!