clever

[ klev-er ]

/ ˈklɛv ər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clever ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, clev·er·er, clev·er·est.

mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.

superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile: It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.

showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious: His clever device was the first to solve the problem.

adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.

Older Use.

suitable; convenient; satisfactory.
good-natured.
handsome.
in good health.

Nearby words

Origin of clever

1175–1225; Middle English cliver, akin to Old English clifer claw, clife burdock. See cleavers

SYNONYMS FOR clever

1. ingenious, talented, quick-witted; smart, gifted; apt, expert. 4. skillful, agile, handy.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR clever ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR clever

1. stupid. 4. clumsy.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR clever ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

clev·er·ish, adjectiveclev·er·ish·ly, adverbclev·er·ly, adverbclev·er·ness, noun

o·ver·clev·er, adjectiveo·ver·clev·er·ly, adverbo·ver·clev·er·ness, nounun·clev·er, adjectiveun·clev·er·ly, adverbun·clev·er·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for cleverly

Hooters is cleverly asking me to “Give a Hoot” about breast cancer.
The Misogynistic Companies Jumping On The Breast Cancer Bandwagon|Emily Shire|October 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Eschliman also cleverly referred to non-heterosexuals as "the LGBTQXYZ crowd."
Fringe Factor: 'Gaystapo' Claims Its Latest 'Victim'|Olivia Nuzzi|July 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Aronofsky's extrapolations are cleverly calibrated to "answer" all the questions left unanswered in the original story.
‘Noah’ Review: An Ambitious, Flawed Biblical Tale That You Have to See|Andrew Romano|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He cleverly defended fundraising efforts on behalf of the Greek military in Britain as a matter of free enterprise.
Poet and Rake, Lord Byron Was Also an Interventionist With Brains and Savvy|Michael Weiss|February 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

When Soviet dissidents came to the West, they cleverly defied their old masters.
The Mystery of Mikhail Khodorkovsky|Bernard-Henri Lévy|January 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A cleverly written description of a young English officer's internment as a prisoner of war in Germany.
A Kut Prisoner|H. C. W. Bishop
He was carried prisoner to Plymouth, whence he had cleverly escaped one night by scaling a wall and putting off in a little boat.
Humphrey Bold|Herbert Strang
Clinton's descent had been cleverly managed, out of Washington's sight.
The Campaign of Trenton 1776-77|Samuel Adams Drake
"We didn't think they'd fight," she said, cleverly dodging the larger implications of the discussion.
Seeing Things at Night|Heywood Broun
His plan may be cleverly devised to surmount difficulties of structure and material; it will not be inspired.
Since Czanne|Clive Bell

British Dictionary definitions for cleverly

clever

/ (ˈklɛvə) /

adjective

displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness

adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands

smart in a superficial way

British informal sly; cunning

(predicative; used with a negative) dialect healthy; fit

Derived Formscleverish, adjectivecleverly, adverbcleverness, noun

Word Origin for clever

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for cleverly

clever

adj.

1580s, "handy, dexterous," apparently from East Anglian dialectal cliver "expert at seizing," perhaps from East Frisian klüfer "skillful," or Norwegian dialectic klover "ready, skillful," and perhaps influenced by Old English clifer "claw, hand" (early usages seem to refer to dexterity). Or perhaps akin to Old Norse kleyfr "easy to split" and from a root related to cleave "to split." Extension to intellect is first recorded 1704.

This is a low word, scarcely ever used but in burlesque or conversation; and applied to any thing a man likes, without a settled meaning. [Johnson, 1755]

The meaning has narrowed since, but clever also often in old use and dialect meant "well-shaped, attractive-looking" and in 19c. American English sometimes "good-natured, agreeable." Related: Cleverly; cleverness.

clever

adjective, clev·er·er, clev·er·est.

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Origin of clever

Examples from the Web for cleverly

clever

adjective

Word Origin for clever

clever