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Antonyms for cleverest

Grammar : Adj
Spell : klev-er
Phonetic Transcription : ˈklɛv ər

Definition of cleverest

Origin :
  • 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.
  • This is a low word, scarcely ever used but in burlesque or conversation; and applied to any thing a man likes, without a settled meaning. [Johnson, 1755]
  • 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.
  • adj bright, ingenious
Example sentences :
  • Von Holzen is the cleverest man I know, and he knows what he is doing.
  • Extract from : « Roden's Corner » by Henry Seton Merriman
  • I have told you scores of times you are the cleverest woman in the kingdom.
  • Extract from : « Cleo The Magnificent » by Louis Zangwill
  • One of the cleverest stories that has been issued in many a moon.
  • Extract from : « Christopher Columbus and His Monument Columbia » by Various
  • And now in the cleverest manner he has got into an impossible place.
  • Extract from : « Sophist » by Plato
  • Samoval was a spy—the cleverest spy that we have ever had to deal with.
  • Extract from : « The Snare » by Rafael Sabatini
  • Remember that you are dealing with the cleverest and maddest brain we know of to-day.
  • Extract from : « The Mind Master » by Arthur J. Burks
  • These should have been reserved for the cleverest, the flower of the community.
  • Extract from : « The Polity of the Athenians and the Lacedaemonians » by Xenophon
  • The cleverest thieves were the most respected members of the tribe.
  • Extract from : « Criminal Man » by Gina Lombroso-Ferrero
  • People said he and Bob Standish were the two cleverest men that ever lived in town.
  • Extract from : « Rope » by Holworthy Hall
  • Beyond a doubt in its line this is one of the cleverest books on the market.
  • Extract from : « Breaking Away » by Oliver Optic

Synonyms for cleverest

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019