ingenious

adjective

in·​ge·​nious in-ˈjēn-yəs 

1

: having or showing an unusual aptitude for discovering, inventing, or contriving

an ingenious detective

2

: marked by originality, resourcefulness, and cleverness in conception or execution

an ingenious contraption

3

obsolete : showing or calling for intelligence, aptitude, or discernment

ingeniously adverb

ingeniousness noun

Synonyms

• clever
• creative
• imaginative
• innovational
• innovative
• innovatory
• inventive
• original
• originative
• Promethean

Choose the Right Synonym for ingenious

clever, adroit, cunning, ingenious mean having or showing practical wit or skill in contriving.

clever stresses physical or mental quickness, deftness, or great aptitude.

a person clever with horses

adroit often implies a skillful use of expedients to achieve one's purpose in spite of difficulties.

an adroit negotiator

cunning implies great skill in constructing or creating.

a filmmaker cunning in his use of special effects

ingenious suggests the power of inventing or discovering a new way of accomplishing something.

an ingenious software engineer

Examples of ingenious in a Sentence

How many dog-size bathrobes (an ingenious device) are out there? —David Colman, Vogue, April 2001

… spacecraft engineers tried to come up with ways to "unstick" the antenna. Those attempts failed, but by ingenious software and mission-sequencing techniques … the Galileo mission was still able to fulfill nearly all of its scientific requirements and return a rich quantity of scientific data … —Louis Friedman et al., Encyclopedia of the Solar System, 1999

… an ingenious method of checking errors … —W. David Gardner, Datamation, June 1982

The book has an ingenious plot.

She was ingenious at finding ways to work more quickly.

It was ingenious of him to arrange the schedule so precisely.

Recent Examples on the Web

Lady Jessica, Dune Lynch may have all but disowned Dune after battling with studio executives over the film’s final cut, but the sci-fi epic still serves as one of his most dazzling feats of costuming, thanks to the ingenious work of designer Bob Ringwood. —Liam Hess, Vogue, 17 Jan. 2025

Using an ingenious strategy, Corbett positioned the villagers to create a human barrier, their loud shouts and pounding drums designed to flush the tiger out of hiding. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Through the construction of an ingenious wooden insert the couple managed to fit a bathroom, bedroom, kitchen/living space, and even a spa into such a tiny space–compartments fold out when needed and slot perfectly back into place when the resident’s activity changes. —Hannah Martin, Architectural Digest, 16 Jan. 2025

Groom Ranks Friends on ‘Score Sheet’ To Determine Who Gets Wedding Invite By Jack Beresford Senior Life and Trends Reporter 1 A man has presented his ingenious method for deciding who to invite to his upcoming wedding to social media. —Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English ingenyous, from Middle French ingenieus, from Latin ingeniosus, from ingenium natural capacity — more at engine entry 1

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

ingenious

adjective

in·​ge·​nious in-ˈjēn-yəs 

: having or showing ingenuity : very clever

an ingenious plan

ingeniously adverb

ingeniousness noun

Etymology

from early French ingenieus "calling for or showing special intelligence or cleverness," from Latin ingeniosus (same meaning), from ingenium "natural ability or desire to do something, inborn ability," from in "in" and -genium, from gignere "to father, beget" — related to engine, genius, gin entry 1