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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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of clever
The filmmaking team of Matt Bettinelli-Olpin and Tyler Gillett broke through with the clever and fun horror movie Ready or Not in 2019 and are known for helping revitalize the Scream franchise with a pair of movies in 2022 and 2023.
—
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This clever design was created by none other than Lauren Santo Domingo.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
Watch the video below to see the raccoon’s clever escape!
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Who can square up to Hopkins in that clever craft?
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
This clever design was created by none other than Lauren Santo Domingo.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 4 Nov. 2025
Watch the video below to see the raccoon’s clever escape!
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Who can square up to Hopkins in that clever craft?
—Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for clever
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clever
Adjective
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Brazil is set to introduce an ambitious and innovative new system for financing forest protection (more on that below) and Lula comes into COP30 with an impressive record of successful forest protection.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The night celebrated innovative global environmental solutions.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The aquatic mammals, Hadsel says, are so intelligent and have such strong sensory organs that they can be taught to recover human remains.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
11 Nov. 2025
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In the summer of '38, only the very intelligent people knew what was coming.—
Liz McNeil,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Fueled by vengeance and cunning ambition, Ashur rises from betrayal and bloodshed to seize power, gouging out a place for the House of Ashur in a new arena full of violence, desire, and twisted loyalty.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
30 Oct. 2025
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The elaborate scheme, masterminded by members of four Mafia families in collusion with celebrity athletes, ensnared unsuspecting victims, bleeding them of over $7 million through cunning deception, prosecutors said in the indictment.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The explosive trailer showcases the series’ signature elements including witty dialogues, high-octane action, thrilling chases and the blurred lines between Srikant’s personal and professional life.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
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While this gentler effort is unlikely to be similarly impactful, its witty humor and genuine emotionalism recall the best of Pixar, where its director worked as a story artist on such films as Wall-E and Incredibles 2.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The modern diner offers inventive takes on everything from frittatas to Reubens to Waldorf salads.—
Keith Pandolfi,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
4 Nov. 2025
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Salt & Char is a steakhouse with a farm-to-table ethos that showcases the best of Upstate New York’s produce, while Morrissey’s Lounge & Bistro serves up decadent and inventive American fare with an exciting cocktail program and an impressive wine list.—
Cat Sposato,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Soccer Sidekicks’ Spot the Ball stands out for its imaginative approach to instruction.—
Matt Emma,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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His imaginative storytelling techniques, well known to readers of his previous books Will in the World and The Swerve, often threaten to push him into the realm of historical fiction.—
Isaac Butler,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Food systems now account for about a third of global greenhouse gas emissions, but scientists say regenerative agriculture and climate-smart farming can help flip that into a future where farms also help grow climate solutions.—
Jeff Young,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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Gerard Damiano was a smart guy, a hairdresser from the Bronx who directed Deep Throat and the follow-up, Devil in Miss Jones, which were killing it at the box office, high up on Variety’s Top 50 list of the highestgrossing films.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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No army in history seemed ever to have been more ragged and motley and mongrel and polyglot than the Continental, rich and poor, learned and illiterate, from boys to old men, skilled and unskilled, born all over the world, speaking dozens of languages, believing in different gods and in no god.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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China is increasingly leading the US as the center of global research, and cuts and restrictions on skilled migration are hampering Washington’s fightback.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Clever.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clever. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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