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

There is no doubt the quality is there with Isak, so it was hardly a surprise to see him put away such a clever strike like that.

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Yet he acquired a reputation as a dandy, a clever humorist and an intellectual showman, distinctly apolitical and seemingly a man of no convictions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“Scotland is big enough, we are clever enough and this news confirms that our economy is strong enough,” Swinney said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Sir Tom Stoppard was one of Britain's cleverest playwrights.

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As anyone who perused the many clever protest signs could see, there were many reasons why Americans turned out.

Read more on Salon