clever

[klev-er]

adjective

cleverer, cleverest 

1. mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.

   Synonyms: expert, apt, gifted, smart, quick-witted, talented, ingenious
   Antonyms: stupid

2. superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile.

   It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.

3. showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious.

   His clever device was the first to solve the problem.

4. adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.

   Synonyms: handy, agile, skillful
   Antonyms: clumsy

5. Older Use.

   1. suitable; convenient; satisfactory.

   2. good-natured.

   3. handsome.

   4. in good health.

clever

/ ˈklɛvə /

adjective

1. displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness

2. adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands

3. smart in a superficial way

4. informal,  sly; cunning

5. dialect,  (predicative; used with a negative) healthy; fit

Other Word Forms

• cleverness noun
• cleverish adjective
• cleverly adverb
• cleverishly adverb
• overclever adjective
• overcleverly adverb
• overcleverness noun
• unclever adjective
• uncleverly adverb
• uncleverness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of clever¹

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English cliver, perhaps from Old English clifer “claw,” clife “burdock,” or akin to East Frisian klüfer “skillful, agile, alert”; cleavers, cleft ¹, clove ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of clever¹

C13 cliver (in the sense: quick to seize, adroit), of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

For the next several hours, Nick and Honey serve as unwitting pawns in the older couple’s clever, but vicious, mind games.

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Thompson’s Hedda is a clever, status-conscious snot raised to believe that her sole purpose is to be a rich man’s wife.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Akhtar’s determination to keep all possibilities open made it hard to emotionally invest in a work that ultimately came across as too clever by half.

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Several are renowned for their artistic finesse, a clever blend of modern architecture and traditional Persian elements.

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That’s why screwball comedies didn’t try to upend capitalism, just have some clever fun with it and let a simple love story stick the landing.

Read more on Los Angeles Times