Synonyms for clever
ˈklɛv ərclever

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:4.0 / 3 votes

1. cleveradjective

   Synonyms:
   quick-witted, sharp-witted

   Antonyms:
   dull, stupid

2. cleveradjective

   Antonyms:
   naive, ineffectual

3. cleveradjective

   Antonyms:
   clumsy

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:4.5 / 2 votes

1. clever

   Clever, as used in England, especially implies an aptitude for study or learning, and for excellent tho not preeminent mental achievement. The early New England usage as implying simple and weak good nature has largely affected the use of the word throughout the United States, where it has never been much in favor. Smart, indicating dashing ability, is now coming to have a suggestion of unscrupulousness, similar to that of the word sharp, which makes its use a doubtful compliment. The discriminating use of such words as able, gifted, talented, etc., is greatly preferable to an excessive use of the word clever. Compare ACUMEN; ASTUTE; POWER.

   Synonyms:
   able, adroit, apt, bright, capable, dexterous, expert, gifted, happy, ingenious, intellectual, intelligent, keen, knowing, quick, quick-witted, sharp, skilful, smart, talented

   Antonyms:
   awkward, bungling, clumsy, dull, foolish, idiotic, ignorant, senseless, slow, stupid, thick-headed, witless

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:3.0 / 2 votes

1. clever

   Synonyms:
   able, ready, talented, quick, ingenious, dexterous, adroit, expert, gifted, quick-witted, skillful, well-contrived

   Antonyms:
   weak, dull, stupid, slow, illcontrived, doltish, uninventive, awkward, clumsy, bungling, botched

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:4.5 / 2 votes

1. cagey, cagy, canny, cleveradjective

   showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others

   "a cagey lawyer"; "too clever to be sound"

   Synonyms:
   cagey, ingenious, chary, cagy, apt, cunning, canny

   Antonyms:
   unintelligent, stupid, maladroit

2. apt, cleveradjective

   mentally quick and resourceful

   "an apt pupil"; "you are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold"-Bram Stoker

   Synonyms:
   disposed(p), minded(p), cagey, given(p), ingenious, apt(p), cagy, apt, cunning, tending(p), liable(p), canny, apposite, pertinent

   Antonyms:
   stupid, unintelligent, maladroit

3. clever, cunning, ingeniousadjective

   showing inventiveness and skill

   "a clever gadget"; "the cunning maneuvers leading to his success"; "an ingenious solution to the problem"

   Synonyms:
   tricksy, canny, cunning, cagy, slick, sly, cute, cagey, wily, apt, ingenious, knavish, crafty, guileful, dodgy, tricky, foxy

   Antonyms:
   stupid, maladroit, unintelligent

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. smart

   to understand quickly.

   he is so smart

   Submitted by anonymous on September 22, 2020  

2. anansi

   Submitted by anonymous on November 19, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:1.0 / 1 vote

1. cleveradjective

   Synonyms:
   dexterous, skilful, apt, handy, ready, quick, smart, expert, able

2. cleveradjective

   Synonyms:
   [U. S.] kind, benign, amiable, obliging, accommodating, well-meaning, well-disposed, good-natured, kind-hearted

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. cleveradjective

   Synonyms:
   adroit, skillful, expert, ingenious, deft, dexterous

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "clever":

   smart, intelligent, ingenious, astute, malin, wise, cunning, skilful, malignant, shrewd, crafty, bright, resourceful, slim, adept, artful, sensible, brilliant, skillful

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How to use clever in a sentence?

1. Kevin Hart:

   We're poking fun at these racial stereotypes in such a clever way that people are going to have to go, 'It is stupid to prejudge and to assume based on appearance, color, standards, whatever it may be,'.

2. Leo Nikolaevich Tolstoi:

   I know that most men -- not only those considered clever, but even those who are very clever and capable of understanding most difficult scientific, mathematical, or philosophic, problems - can seldom discern even the simplest and most obvious truth if it be such as obliges them to admit the falsity of conclusions they have formed, perhaps with much difficulty -- conclusions of which they are proud, which they have taught to others, and on which they have built their lives.

3. Dr Lisa Leaver:

   They're interesting to us because they have particular specialisations for catching food, they're a really successful invader in the UK and in Europe, and that might be related to their abilities to solve problems and perhaps dealing with learning in a different way or it maybe a more efficient way than other species do and we know that invasive species tend to be quite clever in a lot of different ways that you measure them. They tend to have slightly bigger brains relative to their body sizes.

4. Robert Thompson:

   Time difference will make a big difference and yes, people will take advantage of the time shifting, something that started with clever VCR owners back in 1981 for the Charles-Diana wedding, and is much easier now.

5. Bertrand Russell:

   Our great democracies still tend to think that a stupid man is more likely to be honest than a clever man.