Antonyms for ingenious


Grammar : Adj
Spell : in-jeen-yuhs
Phonetic Transcription : ɪnˈdʒin yəs


Definition of ingenious

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.
  • adj clever; brilliant
Example sentences :
  • He produced the model of an ingenious contrivance for grinding corn.
  • Extract from : « Biographical Sketches » by Nathaniel Hawthorne
  • The satire was not very brilliant or ingenious; but its meaning was clear.
  • Extract from : « De Libris: Prose and Verse » by Austin Dobson
  • An ingenious substitute for the chain and whip of the slave-driver.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • An ingenious instrument which indicates what kind of weather we are having.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • They used every device of ingenious minds to push the siege.
  • Extract from : « The Rock of Chickamauga » by Joseph A. Altsheler
  • I found that the books had been kept in the most ingenious way with the intent to deceive.
  • Extract from : « A Woman Intervenes » by Robert Barr
  • What will the other nations say of us, who pass for the most ingenious of all the Red-men?
  • Extract from : « The History of Louisiana » by Le Page Du Pratz
  • He started this ingenious index to the state of his churches.
  • Extract from : « The Strand Magazine, Volume V, Issue 25, January 1893 » by Various
  • The plot is described as ingenious, and the verses not unworthy of the author.
  • Extract from : « The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 » by Various
  • This is ingenious, but her proof, after that, is (as she candidly admits) "clumsy and roundabout."
  • Extract from : « A Tangled Tale » by Lewis Carroll

Synonyms for ingenious

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