intelligent

[in-tel-i-juhnt] / ɪnˈtɛl ɪ dʒənt /

ADJECTIVE

very smart

Synonyms

STRONGEST

astute brainy bright brilliant creative imaginative inventive knowledgeable original perceptive rational resourceful smart well-informed wise

WEAK

able acute alert alive all there apt calculating capable clever comprehending deep discerning enlightened exceptional highbrow ingenious instructed keen knowing penetrating perspicacious profound quick quick-witted ready reasonable responsible sage sharp thinking together understanding whiz witty

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dark dull ignorant normal old stupid typical unaware uncreative uneducated unimaginative unintelligent uninventive unreasonable unresourceful worn

WEAK

foolish idiotic imbecile

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

To see how birds stack up against other intelligent animals, Mr. Lefebvre contrasts them to primates.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

She doesn’t mean to be, she doesn’t take herself too seriously, but she happens to be very intelligent, so that combination of those two things makes her just appealing.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

George’s sheep may be intelligent, but they are stubbornly ahistoric when confronted with facts they’d rather not acknowledge.

From Salon • May 17, 2026

She added that, as "intelligent, sensitive animals", any activity involving donkeys must always prioritise their welfare.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

They maintain that the people who drove the Neanderthals to extinction, settled Australia, and carved the Stadel lion-man were as intelligent, creative and sensitive as we are.

From "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" by Yuval Noah Harari

Vocabulary lists containing intelligent

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