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
-
Spending time in our country’s national parks offers a powerful reminder of nature’s ability to uplift and inspire.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
4 June 2025 -
And that, Bates fears, could hurt the bureau's ability to produce accurate statistics.—
Hansi Lo Wang,
NPR,
4 June 2025
Noun
-
Critical leadership skills can be learned through the creative and joyful act of reading children’s books.—
Esther K. Choy,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2025
-
Eight of Pentacles: This is a month to hone your skills and refine your craft, as Mercury’s journey through Aquarius should sharpen your focus until the 14th.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
1 June 2025
Noun
-
In his absence, the first-place Cubs have consistently found different ways to win games and reshape their pitching staff, demonstrating resilience and creativity.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Unlike technical skills that may become obsolete with technological advancements, durable skills such as communication, creativity and emotional intelligence remain consistently valuable across industries and roles.—
Heather V. MacArthur,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2025
Noun
-
In addition to her prowess at finding the net in soccer, Nelson is adept at hitting balls over the net as a tennis player.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
23 May 2025
-
She’s been a celebrity go-to for years—lending her undetectable blending, illuminating, and accentuating prowess to the likes of Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz for year; and now, somehow managing to distill her artistry in a line of products that feel expert, yes, but shockingly approachable.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
The platform designed by our passionate artistic team is a space where talents will be empowered to continue to shape the instruments, strategies, and community these filmmakers need to see their projects and careers blossom.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
-
Theoretical physics has long held a special place in the scientific imagination — not just for its foundational questions, but for its strangeness.—
John Drake,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
-
Partnering with Hrithik Roshan is a step forward in realizing that vision, crafting a film where intensity meets imagination on a grand scale.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
28 May 2025
Noun
-
The 2021 Collage Proprietary Red is a striking study in balance—intensely structured yet polished, with deep concentration and finesse.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
13 May 2025
-
Yet the rest of the exhibition urges us to question what, exactly, is so fine about fine art, and what can get missed or ignored in the quest for finesse.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share