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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cleverness
Noun
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Butler’s ability to anticipate societal challenges has long been a hallmark of her work.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
23 Jan. 2025 -
The popular community event will start and end at Evelyn Greer Park and is open to all ages and abilities.—
CHRISTINA MAYO,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Just about every skill that is useful in calm times will be needed in these difficult months and years ahead.—
James Kendra,
The Conversation,
20 Jan. 2025
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Should be a conceptual thinker with strategic and problem-solving skills.—
Terina Allen,
Forbes,
20 Jan. 2025
Noun
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But this nod to his daughters’ creativity and their close relationship is refreshing to see from a dad of daughters.—
Elisabeth Sherman,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
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This pact signifies a shared commitment to fostering Canadian creativity, telling stories from different perspectives, and delivering impactful storytelling to audiences.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Manual Arts guard Devin Moody shows off his scoring prowess during a recent game.—
Benjamin Royer,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2025
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In recent years, athletes have made headlines not just for their athletic prowess, but also their pre-game glam.—
Michelle Lee,
People.com,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Dexter Lawrence, although an excellent individual talent, didn’t have the ability to fill Barkley’s shoes.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2025
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Hurts won’t make the same mistakes — Philadelphia likely won’t give him many chances — and the Eagles’ defense should perform far better than the Lions’ unit, which lacked healthy top-end talent by season’s end.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
24 Jan. 2025
Noun
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There’s an unapologetic cunning at the heart of this series, and a mercurial spirit that’s as slippery as blood on an Italian marble floor.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
4 Apr. 2024
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Just as Nordlinger shows that the peacemakers and Nobel laureates whose work holds up best are those who brought specific conflicts to an end, the organizations in Bob's account that get the most done are those that pursue limited goals with cunning and patience.—
Walter Russell Mead,
Foreign Affairs,
1 Nov. 2012
Noun
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Set in 1993, Lil Kev follows a 12-year-old Hart, a kid with an unstoppable imagination and a knack for turning tough realities into comedy gold.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
27 Jan. 2025
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To make this sort of elegance truly work, especially in such a self-aware manner, one frankly needs a director with a lot more imagination and dynamism than Condon.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The Roli Piano can be used as a standalone learning system, but the addition of the Airwave controller launched last October will allow for more accurate analysis and honing of playing technique and fingering finesse.—
Paul Ridden,
New Atlas,
24 Jan. 2025
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Carlos Beltran, Andruw Jones and Torii Hunter were among the most exciting defensive center fielders of their time, with speed, power and finesse a major part of each of their skillsets.—
Jason Mastrodonato,
The Mercury News,
21 Jan. 2025
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Thesaurus Entries Near cleverness
Cite this Entry
“Cleverness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cleverness. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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