cleverest

adjbright, ingenious

Synonyms for cleverest

adj bright, ingenious

Antonyms for cleverest

Word Origin & History

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.

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.

Example Sentences for cleverest

Von Holzen is the cleverest man I know, and he knows what he is doing.

I have told you scores of times you are the cleverest woman in the kingdom.

One of the cleverest stories that has been issued in many a moon.

And now in the cleverest manner he has got into an impossible place.

Samoval was a spy—the cleverest spy that we have ever had to deal with.

Remember that you are dealing with the cleverest and maddest brain we know of to-day.

These should have been reserved for the cleverest, the flower of the community.

The cleverest thieves were the most respected members of the tribe.

People said he and Bob Standish were the two cleverest men that ever lived in town.

Beyond a doubt in its line this is one of the cleverest books on the market.