Synonyms for ingenious
- creative
- imaginative
- innovative
- intelligent
- inventive
- resourceful
- shrewd
- skillful
- sly
- subtle
- able
- adroit
- artistic
- bright
- canny
- crafty
- cunning
- deviceful
- dexterous
- gifted
- innovational
- innovatory
- original
- ready
Antonyms for ingenious
- dull
- foolish
- honest
- open
- stupid
- uncreative
- unimaginative
- uninventive
- unresourceful
- untalented
- awkward
- dumb
- ignorant
- incompetent
- inept
EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR INGENIOUS
He produced the model of an ingenious contrivance for grinding corn.
The satire was not very brilliant or ingenious; but its meaning was clear.
An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave-driver.
An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.
They used every device of ingenious minds to push the siege.
I found that the books had been kept in the most ingenious way with the intent to deceive.
What will the other nations say of us, who pass for the most ingenious of all the Red-men?
He started this ingenious index to the state of his churches.
The plot is described as ingenious, and the verses not unworthy of the author.
This is ingenious, but her proof, after that, is (as she candidly admits) "clumsy and roundabout."
WORD ORIGIN
early 15c., "intellectual, talented," from Middle French ingénieux "clever, ingenious" (Old French engeignos), from Latin ingeniosus "of good capacity, full of intellect; clever, gifted with genius," from ingenium "innate qualities, ability," literally "that which is inborn," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + gignere, from PIE *gen- "produce" (see genus). Sense of "skillful, clever at contrivance" first recorded 1540s. In a sense of "crafty, clever, skillful" Middle English had enginous (mid-14c.), from Old French engeignos. Related: Ingeniously; ingeniousness.
MORE RELATED WORDS FOR INGENIOUS
able
adjectiveable to perform well; having a proven capacity- accomplished
- adroit
- agile
- artful
- au fait
- brilliant
- capable
- clever
- deft
- dexterous
- effective
- effectual
- efficient
- equal to
- experienced
- expert
- facile
- gifted
- ingenious
- intelligent
- keen
- know backwards and forwards
- know one's onions
- know the ropes
- learned
- masterful
- masterly
- powerful
- practiced
- prepared
- proficient
- qualified
- responsible
- savvy
- sharp
- skilled
- skillful
- smart
- talented
- there
- trained
- up to it
- up to snuff
- up to speed
- with it
ablest
adjectiveable to perform well; having a proven capacity- accomplished
- adroit
- agile
- artful
- au fait
- brilliant
- capable
- clever
- deft
- dexterous
- effective
- effectual
- efficient
- equal to
- experienced
- expert
- facile
- gifted
- ingenious
- intelligent
- keen
- know backwards and forwards
- know one's onions
- know the ropes
- learned
- masterful
- masterly
- powerful
- practiced
- prepared
- proficient
- qualified
- responsible
- savvy
- sharp
- skilled
- skillful
- smart
- talented
- there
- trained
- up to it
- up to snuff
- up to speed
- with it