clever
Quick of mind
Clever describes quick mental ability—the capacity to learn fast, solve problems, or devise resourceful solutions.
A clever student grasps concepts readily.
A clever plan shows ingenuity.
The word sometimes carries a faint suggestion of superficiality or cunning rather than deep wisdom: too clever by half implies someone outsmarting themselves.
Clever can also describe things that are neatly designed or skillfully made: a clever gadget, a clever bit of engineering.
Cleverly original in design
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
- creativeProducing original ideas
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
- imaginativeAble to conceive new ideas
original · inventive · novel · unconventional · improvised · makeshift · solution · workaround
Mentally quick, or fashionable
- brightEmitting or reflecting light
- brainyPossessing high intellect
- sharpFine-edged, or astute
- astuteMentally sharp, discerning
perceptive · quick · gifted · brilliant · genius · cerebral · intellectual · knowledgeable
Cleverly deceptive
- wilySkilled at deception
- craftyCleverly deceptive
- shrewdPractically clever, perceptive
- schemingCrafty and calculating
devious · foxy · artful · guileful · conniving · calculating · manipulative · sneaky
ingenious
Cleverly original in design
- resourcefulSkilled at solving problems
- creativeProducing original ideas
- innovativeIntroducing new ideas
imaginative · original · inventive · novel · unconventional · improvised · makeshift · solution · workaround · hack
smart
Mentally quick, or fashionable
astute · perceptive · quick · gifted · brilliant · genius · cerebral · intellectual · knowledgeable · learned
sly
Cleverly deceptive
scheming · devious · foxy · artful · guileful · conniving · calculating · manipulative · sneaky · underhanded
banter
Playful, teasing exchange
repartee · wisecrack · jest · droll · facetious · satirical · ironic · amusing · humorous · playful
deft
Skillful and quick
handy · skilled · adept · proficient · masterful · expert · practiced · talented · capable · competent
- complimentssmart, talented, beautiful, funny, awesome
- intelligencesmart, IQ, memory, bright, wise
- media descriptorsdramatic, thrilling, suspenseful, emotional, atmospheric
- Smartsintelligent, genius, smart, gifted, brilliant
- Brilliantbrilliant, bright, radiant, dazzling, luminous
- street smartsstreet smarts, savvy, resourceful, resourcefulness, cunning
cleverstupid
Lacking intelligence or judgment
idiotic · unintelligent · foolish · dumb · brainless
cleverunimaginative
Lacking creative originality
uncreative · impractical · inept · helpless · useless
- too clever
- too clever by halfIntelligence undermining itself
- clever arseIrritatingly quick-witted person
- clever clogsSmug intellectual show-off
- clever hack
- clever remarkQuick, sharp observation
cleverness, cleverly, cleverer, cleverest, unclever, overclever