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
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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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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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Hunter’s defense, ball handling ability and 3-point shooting shined in March Madness and her inclusion in the starting five also brought out the best in Van Lith.—
Steven Johnson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025 -
Additionally, oats have been shown to lower blood sugar levels—especially in people with obesity or who have type 2 diabetes—thanks to good ol’ beta-glucan’s ability to slow the emptying of the stomach.—
Philipp Wehsack,
Vogue,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In each episode, the friends bring those skills together to overcome a new challenge as a team.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
14 Apr. 2025
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This translates into Jan having to collaborate with many versions of himself that have unique skills and far too many conflicting personalities defined by past events.—
Fran Ruiz,
Space.com,
14 Apr. 2025
Noun
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This experience changed my life and my entire approach to creativity as a designer and an artist.—
Ralph Rucci,
Robb Report,
20 Apr. 2025
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That edge matters—in talent retention, in creativity and in bottom-line performance.—
Ximena Araya-Fischel,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Noun
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With the aggression and height of Wendie Renard on the backline and the goal-scoring prowess of Kadidiatou Diani up front, can the French combine their talents and shoot for more this time around?—
Julia Ranney,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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This investment in financial technology and digital prowess was a common theme among the 385 financial institutions that made this year’s list of the World’s Best Banks.—
Haniya Rae,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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And while there’s some individual talent throughout the roster, the team hasn’t won anything with this core.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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Still, she's come to terms with the fact that given her talent and aspirations, fame—and selfies—are always going to be part of the job.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
18 Mar. 2025
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Noted for his tenacity and cunning, Khamenei is also a man of conviction, and his hatred for the United States is deeply felt.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Listen to this article Starting a new theater company during this perilous time for arts funding takes guts, imagination and talent.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
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Thanks to the creativity and collaboration of teams across WB Pictures and the entire company, our film about the power of imagination and building something bigger than ourselves sparked incredible reactions from audiences everywhere.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Prefer lighter, more aromatic reds with earthiness and finesse?—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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Devising the tools to fix it could require a degree in public finance, not to mention a talent for political finesse.—
David Greising,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Apr. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 25 Apr. 2025.
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