Cleverquick at thinking or finding good answers to problems usually means quick at thinking, understanding, or finding solutions. It can also mean skillfullyin a way that shows ability and careful technique made or designed, and in some contexts it means shrewdsmart in judging people or situations, sometimes suspiciously so or too quick to be trusted.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈklɛvər/
Easy pronunciation: KLEV-er (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Primary sense: mentally quick and resourceful.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Clever Meaning
good at thinking, learning, and solving problems quickly
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: mentally quick and resourceful
Example: She’s a clever student who picks things up fast.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- apt — Works well for someone quick to learn or understand.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Clever
Meaning 2
made or done in a smart, skillful way
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: showing inventiveness and skill
Example: That’s a clever gadget for opening jars.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ingenious — A strong match for something smartly designed or inventively made.
Meaning 3
careful, shrewd, and sometimes tricky in dealing with people
Part of speech: adjective
Definition: showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others
Example: He was too clever to agree to the deal right away.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- cagey — Used for someone guarded or hard to read.
- cagy — A spelling variant of cagey; same sense.
- canny — Fits the sense of shrewd, cautious judgment.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Clever Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- apt
inventive and skillful
- ingenious
shrewd or guarded in dealing with others
- cagey
- cagy
- canny
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not use clever to mean simply 'intelligent' in every context; it can also mean inventive or shrewd.
- Cunning is related, but it is not a safe direct synonym in neutral everyday use.
- Cagy is just a spelling variant of cagey, not a separate meaning.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does clever mean?
Clever usually means mentally quick, smart, or good at solving problems. It can also describe something skillfully designed, or a person who is shrewd and cautious in dealing with others.
What are the best synonyms for clever?
For the main everyday meaning, apt is the closest synonym in the supplied data. Other senses include ingenious for something skillfully made, and cagey, cagy, or canny for a shrewd or guarded person.
Is clever the same as smart?
Often, yes, especially when clever means quick-thinking or resourceful. But clever can also suggest inventiveness or shrewdness, depending on the context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-28. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
