Clever
Clever adjective - Showing a noteworthy use of the imagination and creativity especially in inventing.
Usage example: an inventor who was constantly coming up with clever devices for doing everyday chores
Smart is a synonym for clever in bright topic. In some cases you can use "Smart" instead the word "Clever" as an adjective or a noun, when it comes to topics like intelligent, ability, keen, character trait. popular alternative
Nearby Words: cleverness, cleverly
Smart
Smart adjective - Given to or marked by mature intelligent humor.
Usage example: something one sees so rarely on TV: a smart sitcom
Clever is a synonym for smart in ability topic. You can use "Clever" instead an adjective "Smart", if it concerns topics such as keen, bright, intelligent, witty. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Both words in one sentence
- It's made clear that Voldemort could never have retrieved the Philosopher's Stone from the Miror of Erised, no matter how smart or clever he was in bypassing the other defenses.
Source: Only Smart People May Pass -
Saitama Chainsaw Shoujo: Subverted by Fumio, the protagonist, who is not particularly smart or clever.
Source: Meganekko -
The scene emphasizes that Tavi is smart and clever, but that he is not quite as clever as he thinks he is, or able to avoid the consequences of his actions.
Source: Literature / Codex Alera
Cite this Source
Smart and Clever. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/clever/smart
Clever & Smart. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/clever/smart>.
Smart or Clever. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/clever/smart.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "clever" and "smart" have occurred on timeline