cleverness

cleverness — noun

1. the natural ability to grasp new ideas, learn new skills, and solve problems swi

1.名詞B2
釋義

the natural ability to grasp new ideas, learn new skills, and solve problems swiftly, without needing a lot of time or explanation.

例句

Theo's cleverness helped him finish the puzzle before anyone else in his class.

cleverness + help + infinitive pattern

The boss admired Leila's cleverness in cutting costs without losing any staff.

cleverness in + [verb]-ing

同義詞
  • intelligence

    broader; includes both knowledge and reasoning, whereas cleverness highlights speed

  • sharpness

    informal; emphasizes alertness and noticing details quickly

  • wit

    often linked to quick, humorous or clever speech rather than problem-solving

反義詞
  • stupidity

    strong opposite; lack of ability to understand or learn

  • slowness

    highlights the opposite quality — taking a long time to grasp things

用法筆記

Unlike intelligence, which includes general knowledge and reasoning ability, cleverness emphasises speed and adaptability in tackling new problems.

常見錯誤

❌She has a lot of cleverness about history.
✅She has a lot of knowledge about history.
💡cleverness refers to quick thinking, not accumulated facts.
❌He showed his cleverness by memorising the whole speech.
✅He showed his cleverness by coming up with answers on the spot.
💡cleverness is about spontaneous understanding, not memorisation.

2. the quality of being well designed, well planned, or skilfully made, so that som

2.名詞B2
釋義

the quality of being well designed, well planned, or skilfully made, so that something works effectively or surprisingly well.

例句

The cleverness of the bridge's design won a national award for the engineering team.

cleverness of + noun (design, layout, plan)

Visitors admired the cleverness of the kitchen layout with its hidden storage spaces.

admire the cleverness of

同義詞
  • ingenuity

    stronger emphasis on inventiveness and creative problem-solving

  • inventiveness

    focuses on creating something new, not just well-arranged

  • resourcefulness

    about using available materials or ideas in smart ways

反義詞
  • clumsiness

    poor design or awkward arrangement

  • ineptness

    lack of skill in planning or making something

用法筆記

Unlike sense 1, which describes a person's mental ability, this sense describes the quality of an object, system, or idea — the result of clever thinking rather than the thinking itself.

常見錯誤

❌The cleverness of the sunset took my breath away.
✅The cleverness of the alarm system surprised the burglars.
💡this sense applies to deliberately designed objects or plans, not natural beauty.